Tamarinier

The Tamarinier ( Tamarindus indica ) is a tree of the family of the Fabacée S subfamily of Caesalpinioidées. This tree is the only species in the kind Tamarindus .

Description

It is a tree from 10 to 20 m in height to rather short trunk, with alternate, paripinnate sheets (to 12 pairs of leaflets), with the yellowish flowers in Racème S falling down terminals, with the fruits, known under the name of tamarins, consisted of large pods containing several seeds surrounded by fibrous pulp. It is a plant with persistent foliage, slow growth and long lifespan. It flowers in May and gives fruits in October.

This tree is originating in the dry tropical areas of the East Africa. Established it is very a long time in India, it since diffused in all the tropical areas. It was introduced at the 16th century in Central America and is now widespread with the Mexico, the Honduras and the Guatemala.

Use

It is cultivated for its fruits sometimes called “dates of India” and more particularly for the edible pulp which surrounds the seeds and which is at the same time acid and rich in sucre.
This pulp added with sugar is used to make an acidulous drink refresco of tamarindo in Latin America or tamarinade with the Antilles and with the Meeting.

Culinary use

It is employed like spices in the Indian kitchen and of the Middle-East. It gives a sour savor. It is used in the curries, the dishes of lenses, the soft chutney, or is useful has to scent rice. It is an important ingredient of the Worcestershire sauce .

The pectin which it contains is used in industrial jam. The very acid juice (rich person in tartaric acid) finds a use comparable with the lemon juice.

Therapeutic use

It can be used as laxative or to help with digestion. One can also use it in the treatment of bronchitides. It can finally look after the evils of throats (gargarism).

Various parts of the tamarinier enter the traditional pharmacopeias.

Various uses

The tamarin cleans copper. It is enough to powder it with a handle to sea salt, to wet it and to rub the object of it. One draws from the starch of crushed seeds.

See too

the Tamaris, shrub which, because of its name, is sometimes confused with the tamarinier.

External bonds

ITIS 26980
Description of the kind '' Tamarindus ''
Toil' of spices - Tamarin
the tamarinier of the Brigand

Literature

history moving by a child in search of a serenity which it finds near his friend the tree:
Joëlle Escormier, the large tamarinier , Azaleas editions, Sainte-Marie, 2001, ISBN 2-913158-20-X

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