Tangy Tales

From beauty benefits to health cures, the magic that tamarind weaves goes far beyond the taste buds.

If you have a sweet tooth but also relish lip-smacking sour flavours, then tamarind (imli) is your saviour. This leguminous plant, indigenous to Africa (now increasingly grown in India), is a tropical species that thrives in hot temperatures. It is mostly cultivated for its edible pod-like fruit which is a juicy, and the sticky pulp contains a melange of delicate sweet and tangy flavours. A powerhouse of nutrients, tamarind comes with a host of medicinal benefits.

LOCK, STOCK AND LOADED

Don’t let the size of this tiny pod fruit make you overlook its nutritional benefits. It is chock-full of nutrients like potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, thiamine, vitamins (A, C, E and K), sodium, folic acid, riboflavin, copper and dietary fibre. It is loaded with anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties. It aids in weight-loss, keeps a tab on diabetes and can function as a laxative.