The tamarind fruit is one of those things that people either love or hate. For me, it’s always been somewhere in the middle. I’ve never had much luck with tamarind powder, but I like tamarind juice. When we found out there was a brand of tamarind juice concentrate, we thought it would be great to add some to our drinks.
We knew we wanted something light and refreshing, so we went with a recipe that uses fresh tamarind pulp mixed with simple syrup. This gives us a drink that tastes just like a tropical fruit smoothie without having to use ice cubes. You’ll find that this drink is very easy to make, and you’ll want to keep a batch around all summer long. Drive in to know the recipe:
Tamarind soda: What is it?
Many Mexican food courts here in Southern California sell tamarind drink, a type of agua fresca that is popular throughout Latin America.
There are tamarind pods in the market that are fresh and ripe, which are then shelled, deveined, and then simmered in water to soften them and extract the pulp from them. After the pulp is strained and diluted with additional water, it is sweetened with simple syrup to your liking to taste before being strained again. It is served chilled, or over ice as a refreshing drink that is enjoyed chilled or over ice.
I would like to encourage you to drink this flavoured water since the tamarind fruit is a fruit that is widely used in our local cuisine and is easily accessible in the markets here in the Philippines, as it is a beverage that is still not very well known in the local food scene. This is a delicious drink loaded with a bright, fresh fruit flavour. It’s a great way to stay hydrated this summer and throughout the year.
Tamarind pods: where to find them?
Tamarind pods are fairly common throughout Mexico, especially in grocery stores and spice shops. They come in different sizes and colours, from light brown to dark red. You can buy them whole or ground them up into a powder. Most people use them in sauces or marinades, but some require the pods to be soaked first.
The tamarind pod is related to the fig tree and dates back thousands of years ago. In fact, it was used by ancient Egyptians and Greeks. Today, it’s still commonly used in many countries around the world, including India, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion Island, Madagascar, Comoros, Mayotte, Réunion Island, Mauritius, Maldives, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Wallis & Futuna, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Tokelau, Niue, American Samoa, Hawaii, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, and Papua New Guinea. If you cant tamarind in your area, then you can just order on amazon.
Here is how to make tamarind water:
Things you need:
1 cup fresh tamarind pulp
2 cups water
3 tablespoons sugar
Here is How to Make tamarind water:
Step1: You need to remove all the hard shells from the tamarind pods outside and all the fibres and strings from the inside by removing and discarding the hard shells from the outside of the tamarind pods.
Step 2:After boiling the peeled tamarind pods for 8 minutes, allow them to sit in the pot from the heat for 2 to 3 hours until they’re completely cooled.
Step 3; After the tamarind pods have been cooked, squeeze the seeds out with your hands. If there are still fibers or strings remaining, discard them.
Step 4: Using a large blender, puree the liquid once all seeds and strings have been removed. In a large pitcher, strain the mixture.
Step 6: Add water and sugar to the pitcher.
Step 7: Combine all the ingredients and test the sweetness. If needed, add more sugar as needed. Put lots of ice in your glass, and enjoy.
Some tips and tricks to help you out:
Depending on your preference, you can choose brown or white sugar. Using brown sugar is a better choice when cooking than white sugar, which tends to be a little sweeter and richer. As soon as you have poured the tamarind water into your glass, stir it vigorously to keep the pulp at the bottom of the glass. This is where the flavor is.
You should start with 3/4 cup of sugar and add more to taste if you do not like sweet drinks. It is a little too sour for my taste if there is less than 3/4 cup sugar in the pitcher.
Are you unable to handle the strength? Too much tamarindo drink should be diluted with more water.
Occasionally, solids may settle on the bottom of the pitcher. Stir the drink before serving to break them up.
Put it all together. You can brighten up the taste by adding lime juice to each glass.
Cocktails are the best. Add 1 to 1.5 ounces of tequila or vodka to make a tasty cocktail.
Tamarind’s health benefits
In addition to its health benefits, tamarind can lower blood sugar levels, solve stomach problems, treat colds and fevers, lower cholesterol levels, and help digestion.
In addition, it contains vitamins, minerals, and nutrients like iron, fibre, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamin C. These are not intended as self-medications, only to demonstrate that tamarind provides health benefits and taste. Such as:
The nutritional benefits of tamarind
Approximately 100 grams of tamarind contain:
238 calories/1011 kilocalories
The protein content of 2.3 grams
Carbohydrates: 62.5g
Fibre content: 5.1 grams
The fat content is 0.6 grams
Niacin 1.9 mg
Folate: 14 ug
• 3.5 mg of vitamin C
Vitamin A 30 IU
Potassium 628mg
Calcium 74mg
Magnesium 92mg
Iron: 2.8 mg
Health benefits of tamarind:
1. Antioxidants are abundant in this food
As a powerful antioxidant, the pulp of the tamarind fruits possesses a wide range of phytonutrients that enhance the efficacy of health defenses in the body and serve as potent dietary antioxidants. Antioxidants can reduce the inflammatory effects of oxidative stress.
2. Anticancer properties may be present
A 2014 animal study found that tamarind seed extract attenuated the progression of Renal Cell Carcinoma and reduced oxidative stress markers. Because it has antioxidant properties and blocks cancer-related signal pathways, tamarind seed extract has antioxidant enzyme induction properties.
3. Improves cholesterol and heart health
Due to its polyphenol and flavonoid content, tamarind lowers LDL cholesterol and increases HDL cholesterol, thereby reducing atherosclerosis risk. As well as reducing diastolic blood pressure, dried pulp had anti-hypertensive effects.
4. Protects the liver
It has been shown that tamarind fruit extract can be useful in preventing fatty liver disease or hepatosteatosis. This is due to the antioxidants called procyanidins, it contains, which act as a protective agent against free radical damage.
5. Antimicrobial properties provide natural protection
Tamarind extract contains natural compounds capable of being used as an antimicrobial against pathogenic microorganisms. The antibacterial properties of lupeol have been identified specifically.
6. A potential anti-diabetic agent
Diabetes patients may benefit from tamarind seed extract’s anti-inflammatory properties and improved blood sugar control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Agua Fresca De Tamarindo: What is it?
This refreshing Agua Fresca De Tamarindo is a great way to stay cool and refreshed. You only need three ingredients for the most delicious Agua De Tamarindo you will enjoy. All it takes is tamarind pulp, sugar, and water.
Tamarind can be eaten every day, but is it healthy?
With the ability to boost immunity and shield your liver and heart from diseases, tamarind is good for your health in many ways. Fiber and fat are both found in tamarind. Because it contains flavonoids and polyphenols, eating tamarind daily may help reduce weight.
What is the recommended daily intake of tamarind?
The recommendation is to consume 10 grams of tamarind daily to reduce the amount of fluoride in the body by lowering its excess content.
Tamarind detoxifies the body, does it not?
As tamarind juice is believed to have mild diuretic properties, it can help with indigestion, constipation, cramps, and/or bloating. The juice of tamarind is ideal for those who want to lose weight. Due to its mild diuretic properties, it can help flush the body of toxic waste.
Is there anyone who shouldn’t eat tamarind?
As long as more information is available, avoiding using amounts that exceed those found in food is better. Blood sugar levels may be lowered by tamarind. Blood sugar control may be affected by it. Keep your blood sugar levels under close control if you use tamarind and have diabetes.
Conclusion
Making tamarindo water is a simple but delicious way to prepare a refreshing drink. It’s also very healthy because it contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. You can even use your homemade tamarindo water as an alternative to commercial soft drinks. Don’t wait any long run to the kitchen and start making tamarind water with the above recipe.
