Where does tamarind grow?:- Today, tamarind grows widely in most tropical/subtropical regions of the world. It is thought to have originated in tropical East Africa, from where it was carried by seafaring Arabian traders to Asia and Southeast Asia. From there it is thought to have made the trip over the Atlantic to the American continent where it is grown widely in parts of Central and South America. Tamarind is well adapted to semi-arid tropical conditions, it also grows well in many humid tropical areas with seasonally high rainfall. It grows in well drained, slightly acidic soils.  Regardless of total annual rainfall, tamarind produces more fruit when subjected to a fairly long annual dry period. The tree has a deep and extensive root system, which allows it to withstand violent typhoons and  cyclones. Young trees are susceptible to frost but the mature trees can withstand temperatures of -3oC.  Tamarind is grown commercially in plantations and homestead gardens.

Why should you grow tamarind?:- The tamarind tree can produce an annual fruit yield in the range of 150-500 kg.  It is easy and cheap to cultivate and free of any serious pests and diseases. It is generally left to grow until it dies naturally, as the timber does not fetch as good a price as the fruit in the market place. The tamarind tree provides perennial cover  protecting the soil and aiding in the storage and recycling of plant nutrients and organic matter. Tamarind  is most well known for its fruits which have a low water content and one of the highest levels of protein and carbohydrate of any fruit. The pulp is high in potassium, phosphorus and calcium. It also contains iron and a good source of the vitamins thiamin and niacin. The leaves contain vitamin C and beta carotene and the seed protein has a highly favourable amino acid content. Tamarind could therefore contribute significantly to the nutrition of low income rural households, especially children.

Economics of tamarind:- Tamarind is an economically important species. There are 2 main varieties, sweet and sour.  The sweet tamarind is produced mainly in Thailand where it is grown on a commercial scale and is exported both in the fresh and processed form. Approximately 140,000 tons of tamarind is produced annually in Thailand. India is also a major producer of tamarind, where it is collected and marketed mainly by the rural communities. Both sweet and sour types are grown in India, though the sour type is by far the more commercial variety. The total tamarind production is thought to exceed 300,000 tons annually. India exports tamarind products to Pakistan, Arab countries, Europe and North America. Other Asian countries also produce and export tamarind, but on a much smaller scale. In the Americas, Costa Rica has become quite a large producer of tamarind with production of 220 tons annually. Other American countries like  Mexico and Puerto Rico  produce it in smaller quantities. Export is mainly to North America and Europe. 

What are the uses of tamarind?:- Tamarind is best known for its fruits. The sticky pulp is often eaten fresh but has many other culinary uses for example in pickles, jams, candy, juice and drinks. The pulp can also be used, when mixed with salt, to polish brass, copper and silver, it can be used as a fixative with turmeric and annatto dyes and also serves to coagulate rubber. Extracts from the fruit pulp have shown some molluscicidal activity and has been reported to have potent fungicidal and bactericidal properties. Extracts from the plant also have an inhibitory effect on plant viruses. The leaves and foliage of tamarind can be used as forage for cattle and the timber, though very hard, can be used to make furniture and tools.

Tamarind fruit and leaves are reputed to have medicinal properties and have been used in the past for complaints such as intestinal ailments and skin infections. The American pharmaceutical industry processes 100 tons of tamarind pulp annually and it is a common ingredient in cardiac and blood sugar reducing medicines. Tamarind seed kernel powder (TKP) is a major industrial product, which is used in the sizing of textile, paper and jute. A substance known as “jellose” can be also be extracted from the seed, this is a polysaccharide with gel forming characteristics, it has both food and industrial applications. The seed and its extracts can be used in the food processing industry, as an adhesive in the plywood industry and in the tanning industry due to the high tannin content in the seed.