HEALTH: USES OF TAMARIND!

                           USES OF TAMARIND


One of the most widely distributed spices across the world , it is referred to as the Indian Date by many due to it's date like appearance. What makes it special is the acquired taste one needs to have to appreciate its unique tangy feel.

Though tamarind is known to be a slow - growing plant, the tree reaches a massive stature under favourable conditions and lives for ages and the foliage leaves remain evergreen too.

South Indian cooking includes tamarind in most of the prime dishes like,different types of sambar,  various tamarind rasams, chutneys and also summer cool drinks. Various home made recipes include this ingredient.

Medicinal properties of Tamarind:

The pulp of the tamarind fruit is rich in minerals and vitamins, for instance - calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, riboflavin and is also a good source of niacin for that matter. The pulp of this tropical fruit is considered to be very effective for facilitating the digestion process. Tamarind provides remedy for biliousness and bile disorders, cures inflammations, soothes the sore throat with regular gargling, and makes one recover from alcoholic intoxication, to mention a few uses.

Tamarind leaves and flowers can be dried and boiled to treat swollen joints, sprains and boils. Based on its antiseptic properties, there are lotions and extracts made from the pulp of the tamarind, as home remedy to cure conjunctivitis. The fruit extracts are aslo useful in treatments of dysentery, jaundice, erysipelas, haemorrhoids and many such ailments. The pulp is believed to heal the senses and restore the patients suffering from paralysis.

Tamarind pulp can be heated with coconut oil, to come to a boil, filtered and applied to the hair. With constant use, the colour of the hair turns darker and the roots of the hair become stronger.

To make energy balls, extract a cup of thick pulp of tamarind by grinding the tamarind fruit, mix the pulp with equal amount of jaggery, and a pinch of salt. Take a thick plastic sheet, pour one tablespoon of this paste on the sheet, flatten it and make it to dry in the hot sun.Make several vadas out of the pulp. Dry them and store in a tin. The sweet and sour pancakes, when consumed give you a lot of instant energy when you feel exhausted.We can also add a tablespoon of rice flour to thicken the content, before making into vadas.

A refreshing Tamarind Sherbat is made thus:

One small raw mango.
Few pieces of ginger.
Two tablespoon of tamarind pulp.
Two teaspoon of lemon juice.
One teaspoon of ground roasted black pepper powder.
One teaspoon of ground roasted jeera seed powder.
One teaspoon of ground roasted cumin seed powder.
One tablespoon mint leaf paste.
Few curry leaves.
Few coriander leaves.
Few spoons of jaggery.
Salt according to taste.
Four glasses of water.

How to mix:

Shred the raw mango into small pieces. Grind the mango pieces with ginger, curry leaves and coriander leaves.

Boil the tamarind pulp with a cup of water to get rid of the raw smell. Cool the mixture.

Mix the rest of the ingredients and blend all the ingredients and pastes in a blender with the rest of the water for the uniform spread of the taste.

Can add ice cubes for the fly high spirit.

The exclusive soft drink cools your tensed nerves and provides instant relaxation.

This juice is an excellent alternative to the synthetic juices that are sold at shops.