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Enjoy the wonderful benefits of this refreshing tamarind juice recipe made from scratch and sweetened with coconut nectar with a hint of ginger to tantalise your taste buds.
If you are looking for a drink that is refreshing with a tropical twist then tamarind certainly fits the bill. This drink will definitely quench your thirst on a hot summer's day.
Tamarind juice is perfect to accompany any dinner party or even prepare for that annual family BBQ.
What is tamarind?
In case you are not familiar with what tamarind is then let me explain. Tamarind is a long pod with a hard brown shell.
The fruit is indigenous to Africa but cultivated in many tropical regions including Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and Arabia.
What is tamarind used for?
The pulp is used for culinary and medicinal purposes and plays a crucial role in Indian cuisines. Ironically India is one of the biggest manufacturers of tamarind and with how prevalent the use of the fruit is, it's hard not to believe why.
In the Caribbean, Tamarind is referred to as Tamarindo by the Spanish speaking islands - Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
The English speaking Islands like Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados etc.. like to make a delicacy called Tamarind Balls. The pulp is rolled into a small ball and coated with a dusting of sugar for sweetness.
It is also used to make paste, jam, curries or chicken dinner i.e Tamarind Chicken, chutney and or a sweet beverage.
What is the taste of tamarind?
Tamarind has a instinctive taste, it's almost like a juicy acidic sourness with a slight tangy sweetness. Most people tend to sweeten tamarind which makes it more tolerant to use.
Do not be deterred by the description of the taste because tamarind juice is extremely tasty. If you like lemon or lime juice then tamarind juice will win you over.
How to make tamarind juice from scratch?
To make tamarind juice from scratch you will need fresh tamarind pods or you can use a block of tamarind. To speed up the process of separating the pulp from the seeds.
I pulsed the pulp with water on very low speed in a blender. This is a much quicker method then leaving the pulp to soak overnight in warm water.
I also used a mesh cloth to squeeze the liquid from the pulp. If you don't own a mesh cloth, use a strainer or muslin cloth to strain the juice instead.
Where can I buy tamarind from?
You can purchase tamarind from most ethnic grocery store including Caribbean, African, Indian and Asian. If you cannot obtain fresh tamarind pods (see picture) then use 3 small blocks of tamarind instead.
Can I use a jar of tamarind instead of the pods, if so what size?
Yes, HOWEVER...if you are using tamarind that in the jar you want to double check the ingredients to make sure it doesn't contain any additional ingredients or this will impact the overall taste and texture.
A large about 400ml (14oz) is around the amount that you are looking for.
Is it okay to soak the pods overnight if I don't have a high power blender?
The blender that I used for this recipe is very high power which makes me fortunate enough to eliminate hours of soaking.
If your blender isn't sturdy enough to breakdown the seeds then leave the pods to soak for several hours or overnight.
Strain off the tamarind water from the juice, then add your ginger, sweetener, vanilla to a blender and blitz
Notes and tips
- Store the juice in a glass pitcher in the refrigerator, ready to drink
- Consume the juice within 5 days of preparation.
- If you don't have a high speed blender then soak your pods for several hours or overnight so they separate from the seeds.
- Use 3 blocks of tamarind or 1 large jar of tamarind paste (additive free, no other ingredients) if you cannot source fresh pods.
- The taste. Tamarind is quite tart in taste, if you want a sweeter taste then add more sweetener. If you like a sour drink then use less sweetener or none at all
- Don't forget to add some ice cubes to your drink.
- For a different taste, why not use ginger, lime, cloves, nutmeg or cinnamon.
Other drinks you should try
- Jamaican Sexy Juice
- Carrot Juice
- Guava Juice Recipe
- Jamaican Lemonade
- Mauby Drink
- Jamaican Ginger Beer Recipe
- Sea Moss Smoothie
- Sea Moss Drink
- Mint Lime Drink
- Peanut Punch
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Tamarind juice recipe
Delicious refreshing tamarind juice - vegan, paleo and gluten free
4.96 from 22 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Drink
Cuisine: Caribbean
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 60kcal
Author: Charla
Ingredients
- 1 box of fresh tamarind pods approx 2 cups worth or 3 blocks of tamarind/1 large jar
- 6 cups of lukewarm water
- 1 thumb piece of ginger or 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- sweeten of your choice to taste can use maple syrup, agave etc..
Instructions
Use your fingers to crack the brown tamarind shells and remove the stalk from the pulp.
Place the pulp in a large heatproof bowl then carefully pour the warm water over the raw fruit.
Allow the tamarind to sit in the water for 5-10 minutes so it begins to soften.
Pour the contents of the bowl into a tall blender like a vitamix and also add fresh ginger now. Do this in batches if required to accommodate the volume of liquid.
On the lowest setting, pulse the tamarind for 15-10 seconds so the seed separates from the pulp. The liquid will be dark cloudy brown hue and the seeds should settle at the bottom of the container. Repeat this step if necessary to ensure the seeds have pulled apart.
Pour the tamarind juice into a mesh/cheese cloth or sieve and squeeze and strain the remaining juice. Work in batches if need be.
Finally sweeten the juice to taste and add the vanilla then serve with ice.
Notes
- Store the juice in a glass pitcher in the refrigerator, ready to drink
- Consume the juice within 5 days of preparation.
- If you don't have a high speed blender then soak your pods for sever hours or overnight so they separate from the seeds.
- Use 3 blocks of tamarind or 1 large jar of tamarind paste (additive free, no other ingredients) if you cannot source fresh pods.
- The taste. Tamarind is quite tart in taste, if you want a sweeter taste then add more sweetener. If you like a sour drink then use less sweetener or none at all
- Don't forget to add some ice cubes to your drink.
- For a different taste, why not use ginger, lime, cloves, nutmeg or cinnamon.
Nutrition
Calories: 60kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 45mg | Sugar: 13g | Calcium: 33mg
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