Resulting in a discussion between my daddy and I, involving diet and customs, I share with you The Tamarind tree, as well as the Tamarind fruit. Tamarind balls, rolled in table sugar a natural treat which brings back loads of good childhood memories.
Tamarind tree is found everywhere in Mauritius. It is an important ingredient in our kitchen. The day-to-day consumption of this commodity has many medicinal and health promoting elements. This Plant also known as Amlika or Tamarindus indica it is an evergreen tree indigenous to South India. The parts of the plant that are used are pulp of the fruit, seeds, and leaves, flowers and bark.
Ayurveda describes unripe Tamarind as having, hot attributes, it helps to reduce pain and it increase phlegm in the body. While the ripe fruit promotes appetite, is digestive and help to eliminate phlegm and pain. In the past it was very common to have tamarind tree in a village. The wide ranges of application of the plant turn out to be a panacea in the kitchen and village pharmacy.
The pulp of the fruit which is used to make the famous 'compote tamarin [is laxative, it helps to remove certain kinds of intestinal worms, it improves chronic constipation, corrects abnormalities of liver, stomach intestine and spleen. Tamarind has been used to reduce the temperature in infant pyrexia. It is the ideal commodity to prevent and cure scurvy as it has an abundant dose of Vitamin C. When there was shortage of lemon sailors used to carry preserved tamarind as substitute for Vitamin C.
The leaves are used as poultice to remove swelling. Tamarind leaves remove all types of pain in the body. In Ayurvedic Medicine it is prescribed for the over dosage of dhatura, scorpion bites and other insect bites. Tamarind water is very useful if healing apthous sores and sore throat. In certain regions of South India poor people fried the seeds and eat it is as vegetable. In periods of drought and famine the seeds are ground into flour to make bread. The flowers are cold pressed in order to express juice, this is used internally for bleeding piles.
A common saying, is that evil spirits stay below the Tamarind tree, due to the fact that there is an acidic secretion by the tamarind leaves, which is injurious to health. This is the main reason farmers do not rest below this tree. The beneficial qualities of Tamarind have made it one of the most popular kitchen ingredients of our island.
Dr. Comalchandra Radhakeesoon / Director / Shatayu Trading, 102 A Queen Street, Rose Hill, 4651552
Previous - Next