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History and background

1 The scientific name of tamarind is Tamarindus indica Linn.
2 The tamarind tree where asam jawa comes from is one of the most widespread trees in the Indian subcontinent.
3 There are numerous references to tamarind/asam jawa in ancient Tamil literature.
4 Tamarind is an ingredient in gum used in olden times.
5 It is believed that Tamarind reached South Asia as early as 2000 BC.
6 1.Tamarind is widely grown in Mexico.
7 Tamarind is associated with the wedding of Lord Krishna in Hindu mythology.
8 In Victorian times, the British in Goa kept a tamarind in one ear when venturing into the native quarter to keep them free from harassment because the locals believed the fresh pods were inhabited by malevolent demons.
9 Tamarind slabs and paste store well and will last for up to a year.
10 Tamarind pods will last indefinitely as they require maceration to release their juice.
11 The Thais call asam jawa “makahm”.
12 In Laos, it is commonly known as “mal kham”.
13 The tamarind tree is a tropical evergreen, which grows to a height of 70ft.
14 The tamarind tree has small clusters of yellow flowers with red stripes. They bloom in May while the fruits ripe from October to November.
15 Little attention or care is needed for the tamarind tree.
16 India exports thousands of tons of tamarind fruit yearly.
17 Tamarind pods are harvested at different stages of maturity according to their intended use.
18 Mature tamarind trees can withstand brief periods of heat, up to 28° F, without serious injury.
19 Due to the weather, plants in Southern California seldom reaches more than 15 to 25 ft. in height.
20 Most tamarind trees are capable of producing 350 lb. of fruit a year.
21 In Sanskrit texts tamarind is referred to as the tintrini tree.
22 Legend has it that sleeping underneath a tamarind tree is considered to be folly as it is said to be a popular vessel for spirits.
23 Tamarind fruit is shaped like a long bean, inside which is a sour pulp (asam jawa).
24 Asam jawa fruit was well known to the ancient Egyptians and to the Greeks in 4th Century B.C.
25 Its fruit may be left on the tree for as long as 6 months after maturity to reduce its content of moisture.
26 In India, harvesters merely shake the trees branches to cause mature fruits to fall.
27 The tamarind tree loves the sun. It grows well in sunny climates.
28 Dehydrated fruits on a tree are easily recognizable. Pick one up and you will find that it is hollow and light in weight.
29 The tamarind tree is a generally slow-growing plant.
30 Tamarind timber consists of hard, dark red heartwood and softer, yellowish sapwood.
31 Tamarind grows well in deep sandy loam soil and tolerates limited salinity.
32 Tamarind fruits are brown, fleshy pods that are fibrous, thick and sticky.
33 Bats love to hang out on tamarind trees.
34 The tamarind tree grows wildly in Sudan.
35 The tree is too large to be grown in a container for any length of time.
36 Almost every part of the tamarind tree can be used for something beneficial.

Uses

37 Tamarind is an ingredient in gum used in olden times.
38 Tamarind is an excellent brass and copper polish.
39 Tamarind contains pectin, making it an natural ingredient in many jams.
40 Tamarind is vital in the making of Worcestershire sauce.
41 In India, the ground seed of the tamarind fruit is used in cakes.
42 Extracts from tamarind seeds are used as a stabilizing agent in ice cream.
43 Tamarind plants are also used to make dyes, glue and polish carvings.
44 Wood from the tamarind plant can be made into agricultural tools and furniture. It is also suitable for making printing blocks and tent pegs.
45 Tamarinds may be eaten fresh from the tree.
46 Extracts of tamarind fruits and leaves can be found in body lotions.
47 To deepen the colour of hair dyes, it is also added to turmeric or henna-based ones.
48 Face masks, lip balms and soaps also often contain tamarind.
49 Oil from tamarind seeds can also be used to make paints and varnishes.
50 Wood from the tamarind tree is used as a fuel in the ovens of brick factories.
51 Tamarind seeds are also commonly found in the manufacturing process of textile sizing powder.
52 The kernel of a tamarind is used as a creaming agent for rubber latex and as a soil stabilizer.
53 In the Bahamas, unripe fruits are roasted in coals until they burst and the skin is then peeled back and the sizzling pulp dipped in wood ashes and eaten.
54 Sugared tamarind pulp is often prepared as a confection.
55 In Brazil, a foamy “tamarind shake” is made by stirring strained tamarind pulp into an equal amount of dark-brown sugar and then adding plain carbonated beverage and whipping it in an electric blender.
56 If twice as much water as tamarind is used in cooking, the strained result will be syrup rather than sauce.
57 In making fruit preserves, tamarind is sometimes combined with guava, papaya or banana.
58 Sometimes, tamarind is used as an ingredient in wine making.
59 Tamarind trees are often grown as shade and street trees.
60 Its pods are fed to livestock.
61 Tamarind is also used as an alternative to tomatoes where it is scarcely available.
62 Wood from the tree can also be used as wood flooring.
63 Its fruits are said to be an aphrodisiac.
64 Tamarind fruits are said to be able to absorb poison from poisonous bites.
65 Tamarind flowers are a good source of nectar for bees.
66 The tamarind tree’s seeds yield amber oil that can be used for illumination.
67 In the olden days, people used tamarind seeds to paint dolls and idols.
68 In India, its seeds are crushed and boiled to produce a paste that is used as roofing material.
69 Powder made from tamarind kernels in the Indian textile industry are said to be 300% more efficient compared to cornstarch.
70 Tamarind is also used to dress homemade blankets.
71 Some people also use tamarind kernels as a stabilizer in bricks.
72 It is believed that tamarind can be used as a thickener in some explosives.
73 Tamarind is cathartic, astringent, febrifuge, antiseptic, refrigerant.
74 As a ripened fruit, tamarind is used to make a sweet syrup flavoring for soft drinks, including Coca-Cola.

Health

75 Asam Jawa is considered to be a mild laxative and digestive.
76 It is also used to treat bronchial disorders.
77 Gargling asam jawa with water is recommended to heal sore throats.
78 Asam jawa is also sometimes used in eye-baths and to treat ulcers.
79 As it is highly acidic, it is also a refreshing drink.
80 Tamarind pods contain compounds which have been found to increase resistance to infections.
81 Tamarind seeds are used traditionally to treat diabetes.
82 Asam jawa is known to cure fevers.
83 Intenstinal infections can be soothed with tamarind.
84 Pulp from the seed pods of tamarind is applied to painful joints for relief.
85 Traditionally, asam jawa is also used to control diabetes and high blood pressure.
86 Some asam jawa, mixed with water and salt, is a good cure for hangovers.
87 Infusions of the tamarind leaf are used to treat jaundice.
88 Asam Jawa is a rich source of zinc, carotenes, vitamin C, flavanoids, B-vitamins, fiber, potassium and magnesium.
89 Scientists believe that tamarind contains antioxidants that can fight cancer.
90 Asam jawa is known to be able to treat bile disorders.
91 Tamarind is used as an ingredient in a number of pharmaceutical products.
92 The American pharmaceutical industry processes 100 tonnes of tamarind pulp annually.
93 Tamarind’s effectiveness against scurvy is well-documented.
94 The pulp is used as an astringent on skin infections.
95 Tamarind leaves can treat swellings, ring worms and blood disorders.
96 The plant’s flower is useful in curing urinary troubles.
97 In ancient days, tamarind leaves were used to treat small-pox.
98 Tamarind is also a blood purifier.
99 Intake of tamarind is said to be able to kill worms in children’s bodies.
100 In the Philippines, tamarind leaves have been traditionally used in herbal tea to reduce the chances of contracting malaria fever.
101 In Mauritius, the Creoles mix salt with the pulp and use it as a liniment for rheumatism and make a decoction of the bark for asthma.

 

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