Sumac

SUMAC (or summak) is a sourish, dark, browny-red seed which is ground to a powder. Iranians use it frequently and provide it in restaurants particularly to flavour kebabs. Iraqis use it too and Lebanese and Syrians sprinkle it on salads or on fish. Juice can be extracted by soaking cracked seeds (about 120 g/4 oz) in 350 ml (12 fl oz) of water for 20 minutes, then straining and squeezing the juice out. It is often used instead of lemon juice.