Tamarind Water

Tamarind is the fruit of a tall tropical tree, a fava bean–shaped pod filled with a fruity, orange-brown, sweet-sour pulp. The fruit takes its name from the Arabic words tamr hindi, literally Indian date. Actually, tamarind tastes more like a prune than a date—prune mixed with lime juice and a drop of liquid smoke. This distinctive sweet-sour flavor has endeared tamarind to cooks all along the world’s barbecue trail, from Asia to the Caribbean. You’ve probably tasted it, for tamarind