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    You Are Here Home » Drink Recipes

    Published: Jan 19, 2018 Updated: Aug 12, 2022 by Hilda Sterner | This post may contain affiliate links 2 Comments

    Sweet and Tangy Tamarind Syrup

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    tamarind syrup in a glass with water

    If you enjoy sweet and sour flavors, you will love my sweet and tangy Tamarind Syrup! You can use it to make Tamarind Juice, Tamarind Margaritas, cocktails, and Soy Tamarind Sauce.

    tamarind syrup drink

    Tamarind can be bought in pods or compressed in blocks and labeled as "tamarind paste." The paste contains fibers and seeds which need to be separated from the edible paste.

    In this Tamarind Syrup recipe, we'll boil the tamarind paste in water and strain it to get to the yummy paste. Then we'll mix the paste with sugar and cook it down to make our delicious tamarind syrup which can be used to make all kinds of delicious tamarind recipes!

    Tamarind Syrup Recipe

    Step 1: Unwrap the tamarind paste and cut it in half. Rewrap and store one half for later use. Cut the remaining tamarind into chunks, place it in a pot, and cover it with six cups of water.

    tamarind paste  on a cutting board with a knife next to it

    Step 2: Place three dried limes on a cutting board, and crush with a mallet. The seeds taste bitter, so sort through the pieces of dried limes, and discard the seeds.

    pounding dried limes on a cutting board
    lime seeds on a floured plate

    Step 3: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat then simmer on low for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    tamarind being cooked and spooned out with a large spoon

    Step 4: Carefully pour the liquid through a strainer that's placed over a large enough bowl to hold the liquid. Use a spoon or a spatula to push the pulp through the strainer.

    tamarind pulp being strained in a strainer

    Step 5: Scrape the tamarind pulp from the bottom of the strainer, and mix it into the liquid in the bowl.

    tamarind pulp being strained over a bowl

    Step 6: Rinse the pot that was used to boil the tamarind mixture in, then pour the strained liquid back in. Whisk in four cups of sugar.

    tamarind syrup in a pot being labeled by a large spoon

    Step 7: Stir the mixture until it comes to a boil. Reduce the temperature, and simmer for 30 minutes. Pour the tamarind syrup into a large mason jar, and store it in the refrigerator.

    tamarind syrup in a large jar on a cutting board

    How to Serve Tamarind Syrup

    Mix three tablespoons of the tamarind concentrate into a glass of ice water, and stir until syrup completely dissolves. Feel free to add more syrup if you prefer. Enjoy!

    Another option is to mix the tamarind syrup into soda water or La Croix for a fizzy drink.

    Tamarind Syrup is also perfect for cocktails. For example, you can make a Tamarind Whisky Sour by mixing tamarind syrup with bourbon, fresh lime juice. Here's a Tamarind Whisky Sour recipe you can try!

    Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips

    What is Tamarind?

    The tamarind tree grows long, edible pods. The pods contain seeds that look like shiny, black beads.

    The paste that grows around the seeds is used in many countries to make various tamarind dishes.

    This includes tamarind paste, syrup, margaritas, candy, and is also used to give stews and other dishes a sour flavor.

    Tamarindo pods with a quarter next to them for size comparisontamarind paste on a cutting board

    What can you make with tamarind syrup?

    You may not realize it, but tamarind is used to make a variety of drinks. In fact, my favorite margarita flavor is "Tamarindo." I also love the tamarindo-flavored Jarritos Mexican soft drink.

    In the Middle East, it is used to make a tamarind syrup concentrate that's diluted with ice water to make Tamarind Juice.

    tamarind margarita

    • Tamarind gives food a hard to duplicate, distinct tamarind flavor. It can be purchased in a variety of forms.
    • Fresh tamarind pods are readily available in most ethnic markets. Many stores carry the dried tamarind pods in the spice section.
    • The dried pods need to be rehydrated in warm water. Once softened, the shell and stringy parts are discarded, and the dark paste retained for eating or cooking with.
    • You also have the option of purchasing the paste ready to eat. I prefer the paste because it's more convenient to use, and I lack patience!

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    📖 Recipe

    tamarind syrup drink

    Sweet and Tangy Tamarind Syrup

    Sweet and tangy tamarind syrup. Perfect for preparing a quick, refreshing drink!
    4.72 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Assyrian, Mexican, Middle Eastern
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Servings: 42 servings
    Calories: 80kcal

    Ingredients

    • ½ lb. tamarind paste
    • 6 cups water
    • 3 dried limes (optional)
    • 4 cups sugar

    Instructions

    • Unwrap the tamarind paste and cut it in half. Rewrap and store one half for later use. Cut the remaining tamarind into chunks, place it in a pot, and cover it with six cups of water.
    • Place three dried limes on a cutting board, and crush with a mallet. The seeds taste bitter, so sort through the pieces of dried limes, and discard the seeds.
    • Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat then simmer on low for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Carefully pour the liquid through a strainer that's placed over a large enough bowl to hold the liquid. Use a spoon or a spatula to push the pulp through the strainer.
    • Scrape the tamarind pulp from the bottom of the strainer, and mix it into the liquid in the bowl.
    • Rinse the pot that was used to boil the tamarind mixture in, then pour the strained liquid back in. Whisk in four cups of sugar.
    • Stir the mixture until it comes to a boil. Reduce the temperature, and simmer for 30 minutes. Pour the tamarind syrup into a large mason jar, and store it in the refrigerator.

    Notes

    • Tamarind gives food a hard to duplicate, distinct tamarind flavor. It can be purchased in a variety of forms.
    • Fresh tamarind pods are readily available in most ethnic markets. Many stores carry the dried tamarind pods in the spice section.
    • The dried pods need to be rehydrated in warm water. Once softened, the shell and stringy parts are discarded, and the dark paste is retained for eating or cooking with.
    • You also have the option of purchasing the paste ready to eat. I prefer the paste because it's more convenient to use, and I lack patience!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 3tablespoon | Calories: 80kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 2mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 21g
    Tried this Recipe? Please leave A Star Rating!Mention @HildasKitchenBlog or tag #HildasKitchenBlog!

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    1. Vresh says

      January 16, 2021 at 10:51 am

      What's the shelf life?

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        January 16, 2021 at 11:02 am

        I store it in the fridge and it has lasted around 3 months. It could last longer probably, if it doesn't get used within 3 months. Eventually, the sugar will crystalize, so it is better to use it within the 3 month period.

        Reply

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