On a hot summer’s day, nothing quenches your thirst better than a cold glass of homemade sweet and sour tamarind juice. If you love drinking lemon juice then a fresh and healthy tamarind juice will win your heart over as well.
But wait! Do You struggle with making tamarind juice from tamarind pods or tamarind wet pulp block? If so, don’t ya worry! Pulling out tufts of hair in frustration won’t help you solve the problem and you aren’t alone.
This might’ve happened to most of the tamarind juice lovers reading this article right away. That’s exactly why you are over here and looking for a solution. I got you!
Just lay back and chill! I’m going to let you know the simple 5-step process about how to make tamarind juice within the next 10 minutes. So, without further ado, let’s get into it!!!
For Short Time Readers
Fresh Tamarind Juice Recipe
Tamarind juice is one of my most favorite thirst-quenching drinks and it’s going to transmit a shiver down your spine as well. Just try out this chilled sweet-sour tamarind juice once. You will seriously fall in love with it for sure.
For the last few days, I’ve been making homemade fresh juices, particularly the ones I grew up drinking. One of those recipes was tamarind juice. As the summer is upon us, I just get to share this secret quick tamarind juice recipe with you.
So, here we go,,,,
Servings: 1 pitcher.
Prep time: 15 mins.
Ingredients:
- 1 packet of fresh tamarind pods or tamarind wet pulp block (around 350g).
- 5 cups of cold water.
- 1 cup of warm water.
- Sugar or honey (as desired).
- 1 teaspoon of ground ginger.
- 1 teaspoon of ground allspice.
- Lime or lemon juice.
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
- Cloves.
- Cinnamon.
- Mint leaves.
Instructions:
Step 1:
First off, gather all the ingredients and if you are using tamarind pods, crack the hard brown shells using your fingers and remove the strings from the pulp.
If you are using a tamarind wet pulp block, then break the block into small pieces and put them in a large bowl.
Step 2:
Pour water over the raw fruit carefully and let it soak for 15-20 minutes so it can soften. After 15-20 minutes, the watercolor will turn into a dark brown hue.
Now try to mash the tamarinds with your fingers to extract as much of the pulp as possible and to separate the pulp from the seeds.
Deseed all the tamarinds and put the deseeded tamarind into a pot. If you are in a hurry, you can pour hot water over it because it will reduce the soaking time.
Step 3:
Pour the contents of the jar into a blender and also add sugar or honey, lime or lemon juice, mint leaves, vanilla, and fresh ginger to a blender for a different taste. Blend all the ingredients well until smooth. Work in batches if need be.
Why not use some spices like cloves, cinnamon, and allspice,? I can bet you’re going to love the kick it gives.
Step 4:
Pour the tamarind mixture into a large bowl through a fine-mesh sieve and squeeze the pulp. Do it several times for the remaining juice. Some people like to use cheesecloth but it seems very hectic to me.
I also used a mesh cloth to squeeze the liquid from the pulp.
Step 5:
Finally, Pour the mashed mixture into a serving glass with some ice cubes. You can also sweeten the juice with coconut nectar or vanilla.
And don’t forget to add some ice cubes to your drink.
Notes:
- In this recipe, I made it the way I like. You might drink it as it is, or dilute it with more iced water.
- Some people like to bring the tamarind and water to a boil for like 20 minutes. But I’ve never experimented with this method. Because as far as I know, it lessens the nutritional value of tamarind.
- You can also run your blender at a very low speed. Because this is a much quicker means of deseeding than leaving the tamarind pulp to soak overnight in warm water.
- Go easy on the sugar because tamarind is sweet on its own. So experiment until you reach your desired sweetness.
- As tamarind is quite tangy in taste, if you want a sweeter taste then add more sweetener. If you like a sour drink then drink straight away as it is.
- Always preserve the juice in a glass jar in the fridge.
- Drink the smoothie within 5 days of preparation.
Where to buy tamarind?
Tamarind pods, blocks, and paste are typically found in the Indian, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean grocery stores. Usually, Caribbean tamarinds are sourer than that of Asia.
It’s basically found in almost all tropical places. And that’s because using wet pulp blocks is more common. It is also a very popular drink in Mexico called Agua de Tamarindo!
Can I drink tamarind juice every day?
For sure! As tamarind is rich in fiber, they are great for weight loss. They make you feel full for longer and prevent you from overeating. Hence drinking tamarind juice every single day can help you lose those extra kilos.
Plus, tamarind is a rich source of flavonoids and polyphenols, preventing hunger and helping you lose weight as quickly as possible.
Is tamarind juice good for health?
The answer is a big “YESSS”. Tamarind juice is an excellent source of vitamin B, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, riboflavin, iron, thiamine, and fiber.
Let’s get to some amazing health benefits of tamarind juice:
- Rich in antioxidants. Tamarinds are antioxidant powerhouses, which prevent atherosclerosis.
- Loaded with magnesium which promotes weight loss.
- Good for nerve function.
- Regulates blood pressure.
- Purifies the blood.
- Improves eye health.
- Boosts digestion.
- Prevents chronic diseases like diabetes.
- Has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Is good for the skin.
- Promotes fluoride excretion.
So you can enjoy something that provides you with lots of health benefits.
What are the disadvantages of tamarind?
Besides plenty of health benefits, tamarind juice is not completely free from demerits like all other things. So let’s have a look at some disadvantages of tamarind:
- Tamarind may lower blood sugar levels. There is a concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control.
- If you’re suffering from diabetes and have tamarind, keep an eye on your blood sugar levels closely.
- Moderate consumption of tamarind juice is essential for our health, but too much can result in diarrhea.
- It also works as a blood thinner. So be careful if you already take blood thinner medications.
Can I use a jar of tamarinds instead of the pods?
Yes, but if you are using a jar of tamarinds, make sure you double-check the ingredients if it contains any additional ingredients or preservatives. Because it will change the taste and texture completely.
Can tamarind juice burn belly fat?
Of course! Tamarind juice can help you reduce your belly fat and lose weight as well. Because it carries substances like flavonoids and polyphenols, helping you regulate the lipids’ metabolism.
To know which juice is also helpful to reduce metabolism. Click here.
Final Words:
Well, there you have it. Hopefully, I’ve been able to answer all the queries related to how to make tamarind juice. If I’ve missed out on something else, please do let me know in the comment box below so I can update the post further. Happy juicing, thanks!!!
