Tamarind is a ripe pod-like fruit that comes from the African Tamarind tree. It is most often sold in the form of a thick sticky paste or concentrate. Tamarind has an amazing sweet and sour taste with bright acidity and lots of citrus characteristics. When made into syrup it’s a wonderful drink mixer and makes one of the best Margaritas that we’ve ever had. It might take a bit of shopping to find Tamarind paste, but is well worth the hunt. It can most often be found in Asian grocery stores, at Whole Foods or easily online from a multitude of sources. The following is a recipe for Tamarind Cocktail Syrup.
Tamarind Syrup
- Two Cups of Water to a Boil
- 1 Cup of Sugar
- 8 Ounces of Tamarind Paste
Bring water to a boil, add sugar & Tamarind Paste, stirring to break up the paste. Simmer for 5 minutes or until reduced by a third. Let cool and have the paste steep in the process. Use a fine sieve to strain the cooled Tamarind Syrup. Store in a sterile bottle and keep refrigerated it’ll keep for 2 weeks.
This syrup has a nice pucker from the Tamarind and enough sweetness to counterbalance it.
Tamarind Margarita
- 2 Ounces Good Blanco Tequila
- 1 Ounce Tamarind Syrup
- 1 Ounce Simple Syrup
Combine the above into a shaker, fill with ice. Shake and serve up in a Chilled Martini Saucer Rimmed in Chili Powder. Garnish with a Wedge of Lime. There is a really nice balance of tart and sweet that is contrasted by the savory Chili Powder accent. This drink is amazing!
Now that you’ve got yourself some handy Tamarind Syrup, here’s a few more delicious ideas on how to utilize it before your 2 weeks are up!
Mix 1 Ounce Tamarind Syrup with 2 Ounces of Vodka and a squeeze of Lime for a Tamarind Gimlet.
Add 1 Ounce of Tamarind Syrup to your Favorite Gin and Tonic for a Sweet & Sour Twist.
Mix 2 Ounces of Tamarind Syrup with 11/2 Ounces of Rye in a Rocks Glass for a Sweet & Spicy Whiskey Sour (Top with a Splash of Soda)
Mix 2 Ounces of Tamarind Syrup in a tall glass with club soda for a Refreshing Non-Alcoholic Soda.
Bottle Pro Blog 