Tamarind

Cruzan Foodie Fave: Tamarind

There’s nothing quite like the sweet, tart taste of a fresh tamarind right off a tree! Tamarind is a special fruit that grows in abundance throughout the Caribbean during the summer. Wholly cherished by Virgin Islanders and Caribbean people everywhere, it can be used to make juice, stews, sorbets, chutneys, sauces, syrups and much more!

Tamarind
A Bowl of Freshly Picked Tamarind

Tamarind is housed in a pod-like casing where cracking it open and taking a bite can be either a blissful experience or a tangy, sour one! It offers a plethora of health benefits in addition to its unique taste. Here are a few reasons tamarind is a popular, cherished fruit throughout the Caribbean.

Why We Love Tamarind

  1. The tamarind is known in many parts of the world as an Indian date.
  2. The fruit and the leaves help with chronic constipation and diarrhea.
  3. It’s known to improve cardiovascular health since it is rich in flavonoids and polyphenols, which are excellent for controlling good and bad cholesterol.
  4. Tamarind is high in antioxidants that are anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic and heart friendly.
  5. It may increase serotonin levels in the body, which directly controls appetite and telling the body whether to store or burn fat.
  6. It helps maintain healthy blood pressure, has anti-inflammatory properties and helps purify the blood

One of the many popular ways we enjoy it on St. Croix is as tamarind stew. Scoop this sweet and tangy treat on ice cream, yogurt or eat it on its own. Because of its popularity, it was only right that I included it in the first installment of the Cruzan Foodie Goodie Box in August 2020 and again as an add-on in the Fall Edition Goodie Box in October 2020. Cruzan Foodie Goodie Boxes are seasonal; be sure to add your name to my email list here to be the first to know when Cruzan Foodie Goodie Boxes are available for purchase.

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Have you ever tried tamarind before? Be sure to comment below if you have and share this post if you found it helpful!

Until Next Time,

Q the Cruzan Foodie

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