A can of Tamarind Drink. The can has a picture of tamarind fruit on it and the words Tamarind Drink

Tried a tamarind drink

31st December 2022 - New Experience Number 49.

Not the most challenging challenge of 2022, but I’d never tried a tamarind drink before. It was a quick win to squeeze in on the last day of the year, helping me edge nearer to trying fifty-two things I’d never done before. 

A can of Tamarind Drink. The can has a picture of tamarind fruit on it and the words Tamarind Drink
A quick win to reach fifty-two new things before the end of the year.

Tamari-What Now?

Tamarind fruit isn’t something we usually see on the supermarket shelves in the UK, and it was something I’d never drunk before.

The tamarind tree is originally from Africa, and can grow in other sub tropical regions. The tree produces fruit which look like brown bean pods and they have a taste that is both sweet and sour. I was intrigued as to how this would work in a beverage.

Tamarind fruit hanging on a tree
Thanks to Noah KSB on Pexels for this picture of the tamarind fruit

Fabulous Fruit

We’re all clued up on fruit being good for us, and the tamarind is no different. It’s full of antioxidants, is good for heart health and cholesterol, and it can help to protect the liver amongst many other health benefits.

I’m not really sure I was going to get all the benefits from it in the form I was drinking it. There seemed to be a fair bit of added sugar. 

A glass of brown tamarind juice next to the tamarind drink can
It wasn't the most appealing looking drink

Tasting The Tamarind

Before I even lifted the glass to my mouth, there were two senses that were going to sample the drink first,

If I was going by sight alone, I’m not sure I would have tried even a tiny drop. My glass appeared to contain murky brown liquid – it looked a bit like river water.

On the positive side, it did smell quite fruity as I inhaled the lightly fragranced juice.

The first sip was similar to other fruit juice drinks, a little bit thick and pulpy. It tasted good though! It was a bit tangy, a sort of sweet and sour flavour, with an emphasis on the sweet from the sugar, and surprisingly quite refreshing.

 

Cheers!

Sally, a white woman with dark hair holding a glass of tamarind drink.
Cheers!

Want To Try It Yourself?

  • You might be able to pick this up in your local supermarket. If not, have a look in any international supermarkets to see if they are stocking it.

  • You can pick up cans of the drink online too.

Cost Of Experience

  • My can of tamarind drink cost £1.75 in December 2022.

  • Prices will vary depending on where you shop.

Recommendations

  • Have it chilled.

  • Looking for a cooling refreshing drink on a hot day? Why not give a tamarind drink a try?
  • This is definitely a case of not judging a book by its cover. Try not to let the colour put you off.

  • It might work well as a mixer. If I tried it again I might mix it with lemonade – although I’m not sure how  appealing that would look.

  • It might also work well in a cocktail, although cocktails generally look quite pretty and eye catching, and I’m not sure the tamarind juice would create such a pleasing aesthetic.

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