Tamarind: Flavor, Cooking Use and Health Facts
Tamarind is sweet and sour and is used in curries, chutneys, soups and drinks; the one trial we read found no effect on weight or blood sugar, and one small study found it raised aspirin absorption.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
In the kitchen at a glance
Flavor:Sour / tangySweet
Aroma: Fruity and tangy, like sour dried fruit.
Used in: curries, soups and stews, tea and drinks, pickling, rice and grains
Usual amount in food: We found no source that sets a usual recipe amount; most recipes call for paste by the spoonful, and USDA lists 120 g per cup of raw pulp.
What it is
Tamarind is the sticky pulp inside the brown pods of a tropical tree, Tamarindus indica. [1] It is the only species in its genus and belongs to the legume family. [1] The tree is native to tropical Africa and was carried to South Asia thousands of years ago. Spanish and Portuguese colonists brought it to Mexico and Central America in the 1500s. [1] India and Thailand are major growers. [1] The name comes from an Arabic phrase meaning "Indian date." [1] Only the pulp is the spice; the flat glossy seeds must be soaked and boiled before they are eaten. [1]Flavor and aroma
The pulp tastes both sweet and sour. [1] The fruit gets sweeter and less sour as it ripens, and sourness varies by variety. [1] Unripe green fruit is used where a hard sour bite is wanted, as a souring agent and in pickling. [1] One cooking source uses it to add a sweet and tart note, and names lime juice with brown sugar as a stand-in. [2] The sources we read do not name the aroma compounds, and none says how heat changes the flavor.How it is used in cooking
Tamarind is sold as whole pods, as pressed blocks of pulp, as jarred paste or concentrate, and as juice, syrup and candy. [1] Paste and concentrate are normally the same thing: thick, smooth and ready to spoon. A block of pulp must be soaked in boiling water and pushed through a sieve to remove fibers and seeds. [2]- India and Pakistan: sweet tamarind chutney served with snacks such as samosas; curries and rice; South Indian rasam and tamarind rice. [1]
- Middle East: meat stews, often with dried fruit for a sweet and sour taste; the Ramadan drink tamr hindi, made by boiling paste, sweetening and straining it. [1]
- Southeast Asia: the whole fruit sours sinigang soup in the Philippines, and sayur asem is a sour soup in Indonesia. [1]
- Mexico and Latin America: drinks, candy and confections, including the candy Pulparindo. [1]
- Sauces: an ingredient in Worcestershire sauce, HP Sauce and some barbecue sauces. [1]
The sources we read give no rules for when to add it or whether to toast it. One cooking site says that if you cannot find paste, an equal mix of lime juice and dark brown sugar can stand in. [2] That gives a sweet and tart note but not the same depth, so taste as you go.
Normal food amounts
| Measure | Grams | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cup, raw pulp | 120 g | USDA SR Legacy, via a mirror site [6] |
| 1 teaspoon or 1 tablespoon | Not available | USDA SR Legacy has no spice entry for tamarind in our data file |
| Typical recipe amount | Not found | We opened no source that states one |
Tamarind is eaten as a fruit pulp, not as a pinch of powder. USDA lists it among fruits, so the numbers below are for pulp, per 100 g and per cup (120 g). A spoonful of paste in a pot of curry gives only a fraction of the cup figures, and we did not compute it.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per cup (120 g) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 239 kcal | about 290 kcal |
| Fiber | 5.1 g | 6 g |
| Potassium | not read | 750 mg |
| Magnesium | not read | 110 mg |
| Iron | not read | 3.4 mg |
| Thiamin (B1) | not read | 0.5 mg |
Around 94% of the calories are carbohydrate, and most of that is sugar. [6] The page reports a cup as 16 to 43% of a daily value for these minerals and thiamin, but real pastes vary and many jarred products have added sugar or salt. [6] The SR Legacy data are from 2018.
Buying, storing and preparing
- Forms: whole pods with a brittle brown shell, pressed blocks, jarred paste or concentrate, juice and candy. [1][2]
- Paste vs block: paste saves work; block pulp is soaked and sieved. [2]
- Quality: the sources we read give no quality grades, no shelf life and no storage advice, so follow the label.
- Candy and sweets: see the lead note below. Check where tamarind candy comes from and avoid imported candy of unclear origin. [4]
- Seeds: cook them before eating. [1]
Health: what research says
Eating tamarind in cooking is different from taking concentrated products or large daily amounts of the pulp.Food amounts vs supplements
| In normal cooking | In supplements and extracts | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical amount | No usual amount found; recipes use spoonfuls of paste | No official amount found |
| What studies mostly used | One trial gave 20 g of pulp a day, which is more than most dishes contain [3] | Seed extracts, juice and extracts of varying strength; reviews say preparations and doses differ too much to compare [7] |
| What we can say about benefit | No study of tamarind as a seasoning was found | The reviews we read call the evidence thin and inconsistent [7] |
| Main safety limit | Lead in some imported candy and wrappers [4]; may raise aspirin absorption [5] | Not described in the sources we read |
What the evidence shows
| Use | What the sources found | Strength of evidence | Form and population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight, blood fats, blood sugar and blood pressure | In 40 overweight or obese adults (20 per group), 20 g of pulp a day for 6 weeks changed nothing compared with the control group, though some measures fell inside the tamarind group. [3] | No good evidence of benefit | Pulp with meals; adults with a BMI of 25 to 39.9; no placebo [3] |
| Blood sugar in diabetes | A review says clinical evidence is inconsistent because extracts, doses and study designs differ. [7] | Insufficient evidence | Various extracts; mixed populations [7] |
| Constipation | The fruit is said to be a laxative. [1] We found no trial. | Insufficient evidence | Traditional use [1] |
| Fever, sore throat, sunstroke, dysentery and other folk uses | Described as traditional or possible uses, not established treatments. [1] | Insufficient evidence | Poultices, drinks, seeds [1] |
| Any use of tamarind as a seasoning | No study found | Insufficient evidence | Food amounts |
There is no herb guide for tamarind on this site. For a general look at digestive herbs, see Herbs for constipation and bowel regularity.
Official statements
We read no statement from EFSA, EMA, FDA, WHO or NCCIH about tamarind pulp as a spice or supplement, so we cite none.- CDC and California health staff (US), 2002 report: lead found in tamarind candy wrappers and other sources linked to child lead poisoning. [4]
Related pages
Health connections for Tamarind
What research links to this spice, and how strong the evidence is. Most studies use concentrated extracts or doses far above what you eat; each card says which.
Weight, blood fats, blood sugar and blood pressure
Preliminary or mixedIn one 6-week trial of 40 overweight or obese adults, 20 g of tamarind pulp a day made no significant difference to weight, blood fats, blood sugar or blood pressure compared with the control group.
Supplements: No benefit shown at 20 g of pulp a day for 6 weeks; this is more than a seasoning amount and the finding is not for extracts.
Blood sugar in diabetes
Not enough evidenceA narrative review says clinical evidence is inconsistent because extracts, doses and study designs differ.
Supplements: Extracts and other preparations only; not shown for food amounts.
Traditional laxative use
Not enough evidenceThe fruit is said to be a laxative and used for constipation; we found no trial.
Supplements: Traditional use; no trial read.
Other folk uses (fever, sore throat, dysentery, parasites)
Not enough evidenceListed as traditional or possible uses, not established treatments.
Supplements: Traditional use; no evidence read.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Root causes (2)
- Heavy Metal ExposureDocumented risk
Lead was found in wrappers of some imported tamarind candy linked to child lead poisoning; this concerns candy, not the pulp.
- Medication Side EffectsDocumented risk
A very small 1991 study found tamarind extract raised aspirin absorption; ask a pharmacist before large amounts.
Conditions & symptoms (1)
- Lead PoisoningDocumented risk
Lead in wrappers of some tamarind candy was linked to child lead poisoning cases in California; the risk is the candy product, not the pulp.
Documented risks and interactions (3)
- Raised aspirin absorption. In six healthy adults in 1991, 600 mg of aspirin taken with a water extract of tamarind was absorbed more than aspirin alone.
- Lead in imported tamarind candy. California and CDC staff reported lead in the wrappers of tamarind candy linked to child lead poisoning in 1999-2000; the candy itself had little.
- Toxic to dogs. Tamarind is reported to be toxic to dogs, with kidney injury.
Frequently asked questions
Is tamarind sweet?
It is both sweet and sour. It gets sweeter as the fruit ripens. [1]
How much is normal?
We found no usual recipe amount. USDA lists 120 g per cup of raw pulp, but dishes use much less. [6]
Is it safe in pregnancy?
The sources we read give no safety statement for pregnancy. Ask your midwife or doctor. [1]
Can I take it with medicines?
In a very small 1991 study, tamarind extract raised aspirin absorption. [5] Ask a pharmacist if you take aspirin or similar pain medicine.
Does it help weight loss?
In a 6-week trial of 20 g of pulp a day, there was no difference from the control group. [3]
Is tamarind candy safe?
Imported tamarind candy has been linked to lead in the wrappers, and lead has been found in some candies. [4] Check the source of the candy.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety note at a glance
Safety in more detail
- Medicines: a 1991 study in six healthy adults found that taking 600 mg of aspirin with a water extract of tamarind raised the amount of aspirin absorbed. [5] That is a very small study of an extract in a traditional drink. We did not read the matching ibuprofen study. If you take aspirin or similar pain medicine, ask a pharmacist before using large amounts. The sources we read do not describe interactions with diabetes, blood pressure or blood thinner drugs.
- Pregnancy: the sources we read give no safety statement. A Javanese tradition of using diluted pulp to end a pregnancy is reported only as folk practice. [1] Food amounts are the usual choice; ask your midwife or doctor about more.
- Breastfeeding: the sources we read do not describe it.
- Children: the sources we read give no specific limit. The concern is lead in candy: the California cases involved young children. [4]
- Allergy: the sources we read do not describe tamarind allergy. Tamarind is a legume, so people with legume allergies may ask an allergist. [1]
- Liver and kidney: the sources we read do not describe liver or kidney problems in people. Tamarind is reported to be toxic to dogs, with kidney injury. [1]
- Surgery: the sources we read do not describe a surgery warning. Tell your surgical team about any supplement.
- Quality and contamination: in 1999 and 2000, California and CDC staff reported lead in the wrappers of tamarind candy linked to lead poisoning in children. In one lollipop, the wrapper held 21,000 ppm of lead, while the candy itself held 0.2 ppm. [4] Lead can also come from folk remedies and pottery, which the report names as other sources. [4]
- Amounts that cause trouble: the sources we read give no limit for people. The pulp is mostly sugar, so people watching weight or blood sugar may use sweetened tamarind drinks and candy sparingly. [8]
References
- Wikipedia — Tamarind. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamarind (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Nigella Lawson — Ask: tamarind paste or concentrate. https://www.nigella.com/ask/tamarind-paste-or-concentrate (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Randomized controlled trial of tamarind pulp in overweight and obese adults (Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, 2015-2016), full text. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7050219 (accessed 2026-10-24)
- CDC and California Department of Health Services — Childhood lead poisoning cases in California, 1999-2000 (MMWR report). https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5131a3.htm (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Ahmadu Bello University (Nigeria) — Effect of Tamarindus indica and sodium/potassium Hausa salt on the bioavailability of aspirin in man, thesis abstract, 1991. https://kubanni.abu.edu.ng/items/5df8e809-3e55-483f-bc47-25419d6a5654/full (accessed 2026-10-24)
- USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy (2018) — Tamarinds, raw (fdc_id 167763), read via the mirror site getfoodfacts. https://getfoodfacts.com/food/tamarinds-raw-167763 (accessed 2026-10-24)
- Mechanisms and clinical potential of Tamarindus indica in diabetes: a translational narrative review (abstract page). https://www.citedrive.com/en/discovery/mechanisms-and-clinical-potential-of-tamarindus-indica-in-diabetes-a-translational-narrative-review/ (accessed 2026-10-24)
- WebMD — Tamarind: nutrition and uses. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-819/tamarind (accessed 2026-10-24)