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How to Make Tamarind Juice

Have you ever tried tamarind juice?

It’s tangy and full of unique flavor.

Its taste is similar to tamarind chutney… but sweeter and refreshing.

Here’s how to make tamarind juice.

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What is Tamarind?

Tamarind is part of the legume family so it is related to the likes of soybeans, peas, chickpeas, peanuts and alfalfa.

But, unlike those plants, tamarind trees are huge! There was one at my school and we loved hanging out under it. I have such good memories there.

Tamarind trees bear long brown pods. Inside those pods, you’ll find relatively large seeds surrounded by thin, tangy flesh. That flesh holds all the flavor, and then some.

How to make tamarind juice: Tamarind Pods

How to Make Tamarind Juice

This tamarind juice recipe is simple to make.

You really only need four ingredients: tamarind, star anise, hot water and your favorite sweetener.

Juice ingredients

I used four tamarind pods to get a mild tamarind flavor. I prefer my juice mild and not too tangy. The stronger the flavor, the more sugar you will need; so I only use a little.

If you can’t get your hands on tamarind pods, you should find tamarind flesh for sale in any supermarket or Asian specialty stores. Or try Amazon for pods or flesh:

Stock up too. Tamarind will last for years in the fridge.

Pick up star anise too from Amazon.

Back to the juice.

You can add other flavorings to your tamarind juice like ginger, lemon, aromatic bitters and vanilla essence. I love star anise too. Its amazing licorice taste is one of my absolute favorites! It’s the star (pun intended!) in my sorrel drink recipe too.

For this tamarind juice recipe, a little star anise goes a long way.

Soak the tamarind flesh in hot water to soften the pulp. The longer you soak it, the more flavor will be released.

Then, add your favorite sweetener. Trust me, you’ll need it to cut that tangy-ness!

I use sugarcane juice cubes sometimes or regular brown sugar. That’s it!

Soaking tamarind flesh

For big batches of the juice, pick up a stunning glass pitcher on Amazon too:

Tamarind Juice Recipe

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5 from 1 vote

Flavorful Tamarind Juice Recipe

This tamarind juice recipe is simple and easy to make. With tamarind, star anise, water and your favorite sweetener, you’ll have a unique, tangy, refreshing drink.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time3 hours
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: African, Asian, Caribbean, Mexican
Keyword: tamarind juice, tamarind recipe

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup tamarind flesh with seeds
  • 2 cups hot water
  • star anise (small piece)
  • sweetener of your choice

Instructions

  • Shell tamarind and pull apart the seeds.
  • Add to hot water and stir.
  • Add star anise and any other flavoring of your choice (like ginger, lemon, etc).
  • Let soak for 15-30 minutes, then stir.
  • Repeat step #4 for at least two hours.
  • Strain the juice and sweeten.
  • Serve cold.

Pin this tamarind juice recipe:

Tamarind Juice: Try This Exotic Drink for Summer

Benefits of Tamarind

According to the USDA Food Database, tamarind is a very good source of minerals and, to a lesser extent, vitamins. It shows 100 grams of raw tamarind can provide 37% your daily requirement for Vitamin B1; 43% copper; 22% iron; and 26% magnesium.

The fruit also has low levels of calcium too. It’s not everyday you’ll find a fruit containing calcium.

This 2006 study looked at the benefits of tamarind flesh and found it reduced total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. The researchers also saw evidence that tamarind significantly reduced diastolic pressure.

Tamarind juice is certainly more than just an exotic summer drink!

More tamarind recipes:

Tamarind Paste: How to Make from Scratch

This simple tamarind paste is made with one ingredient (tamarind). It can be used to make a whole bunch of other recipes like tamarind juice, chutney, sauce and more…


Tamarind Balls: Try This Favorite Caribbean Snack

Tamarind balls are tiny, sweet, sometimes spicy treats that are favorites throughout the Caribbean.

And juice recipes:

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4 Comments

  1. Tamarind available over here and we love the taste of it. I would never think of combining it with anise star …. seems so easy and refreshing one to have during summer. Thank you dear !

  2. I never thought of making juice from tamarind which is commonly found in Malawi mostly in hot areas. July to September are the peak months for this fruit.
    I’ve tried the recipes from here. Makes it easy to consume.5 stars

  3. How can I preserve the juice? I am into juice business. Also can I use dates to sweeten it instead of sugar?5 stars

    1. Typical preservatives should work like citric acid. I’ve never tried sweetening with dates – if you do, let me know how it tastes!

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