Tamarind: Tangy, Sweet, Naturally Bold

The tart pod pulp behind candies, sauces, and agua fresca.

SWEET, SOUR, UNMISTAKABLE

Tamarind, the Pod Behind Bold Sweet-and-Sour Flavor

Tamarind pods hold a sticky, tangy-sweet pulp prized across Latin American, Caribbean, and Asian kitchens for candies, sauces, marinades, and refreshing agua de tamarindo. Its bold sweet-and-sour flavor is hard to replace with any substitute. At Latin Specialties, we source tamarind for consistent quality and authentic flavor, case after case.

Tangy, sweet, and naturally bold—tamarind is flavor with real character.

Agua de Tamarindo,Sweet, Tangy, Classic

The taquería favorite, made from real tamarind pods.

Pitcher and glass of agua de tamarindo with ice and a lime slice, with whole tamarind podsTamarind pulp being pressed through a sieve into a pitcher

Refreshing drink recipe

Agua de Tamarindo (Tamarind Agua Fresca)

A deep brown, sweet-and-sour agua fresca made by steeping fresh tamarind pods, the classic partner of tacos and spicy food.

  • Serves8
  • Prep20 min
  • Steep30 min

Ingredients

  • 20 Latin Specialties Tamarind pods (about 8 oz)
  • 8 cups water
  • ½ to 3/4 cup sugar or grated Latin Specialties Piloncillo, to taste
  • Ice, to serve
  • Lime slices, to garnish

Method

  1. Crack and peel the pods, removing the brittle shell and the long fibers.
  2. Place the pulp in a pot with 4 cups of hot water and let it steep for 30 minutes, then simmer for 10 minutes, mashing the pulp so it separates from the seeds.
  3. Pour through a fine sieve into a pitcher, pressing with a spoon to extract all the pulp. Discard the seeds and fibers.
  4. Stir in the sugar or piloncillo until dissolved and the remaining 4 cups of cold water. Chill and serve over ice with a slice of lime.

TipTaste before adding sweetener: tamarind varies a lot in acidity, so the amount of sugar depends on the harvest.

From Field to Your Table

Sourcing

Trusted growers deliver consistent, quality tamarind

Quality & Safety

Strict specs, traceability, and cold-chain stewardship ensure quality.

Ripeness Handling

Harvested at peak maturity for the best sweet-tart balance.

Packaging & Formats

Whole pods, pulp, or custom program packs.

On-Time Delivery

Reliable logistics to keep your supply flowing.

Program flexibility.

We support programs to meet customer and regulatory needs. Choose the approach that fits your market and let us guide specifications, labeling and handling.

Storage, Made Simple

Store tamarind pods or pulp in a cool, dry place away from humidity. Keep in an airtight container once opened for the best shelf life.

Quality You Can Measure