What do tamarinds taste like?

[Xipe Totec]

I just found out the closest combination of flavors that match the flavor of tamarinds.

Are you ready for this?

Two parts Arizona Southern style sweet tea, one part Ocean Spray cranberry juice.

I found this out because I was pouring myself a glass of sweet tea, and my wife told me to save some for my son. So I filled my glass up with cranberry juice the rest of the way.

Damn if it doesn't taste just like tamarinds.

[Chan790]

1. Heh.

When I saw the subject line, my first thought was "Well, I know...but hell if I can describe it."

That's about the best description I've read of the taste though. I'd say regular sweetened tea rather than Arizona-brand sweet tea which I find both tinny and too sweet. Maybe the new Arizona cranberry iced tea? :shrug:

[Xipe Totec]

3. I may experiment with unsweetened tea, now that I accidentally discovered something close

It's the combination of tannin and tartness that characterizes tamarinds, I think.

[hippywife]

2. Sounds reasonable.

I love tamarind. :9

[Xipe Totec]

4. I do too

And they are damned expensive up here in New England.

[Chan790]

5. find a bodega catering to the caribbean community,

I used to laugh when I lived in Brooklyn. Go to Stop and Shop, tamarand pods were expensive well over $3/lb. At the other end of the same block was a carib market selling them for $1 for a 1lb styrofoam tray. Same thing held true for ackee, plantain, banana leaf, goat meat and Caribbean spices. If you went to a store catering to the local Caribbean community, the price dropped by 60% or more.

Edit 2: I've still never found fresh callaloo anywhere but that market.

[Xipe Totec]

6. Found one.

In Hyde Park. My wife calls it the ghetto-mart, because the meat shop smells like an abattoir.

Still, we do find tropical fruits there from time to time.

[Kali]

7. yummy

I have a big bag of them sitting in a cupboard, haven't ever used them before (have had candy and tamarindo to drink, but never made it) any hints or recipes?