Tamarind Tree
Animal Forage, Food Forests, Food Plants - Perennial, Medicinal Plants, Trees — by PIJ February 20, 2009
PIJ #48, Sep – Nov 1993
The graceful tamarind tree (Tamarindus indica) is believed to have originated in Africa and is now cultivated in many parts of the tropical world. Although in the legume family, it does not fix nitrogen; however, its many attractive qualities make it a splendid addition to the large permaculture garden. It is one of the most useful of tropical trees – for shelter, shade, food firebreaks, fuel wood, forage, fodder, bee food and mulch. Leaves, flowers and immature pods are eaten as vegetables, while these items plus the bark and roots have medicinal properties.
Also of high ornamental value, this semi-evergreen dome-shaped tree has graceful weeping branches that almost touch the ground. It can grow to 25m in height and 7.5 m trunk circumference on rich deep soils and live for hundreds of years. The leaves, which form the dense ferny foliage, are 7.5 – 15 cm long with leaflets in 10 – 12 pairs. The flowers which are yellow striped with red are held in a raceme.
Cultivation and Propagation
The tamarind needs a dry season to prosper and has great drought resistance – it is ideal for semi-arid regions (but may require some irrigation). It will recover from frosts if protected when young, greater cold tolerance developing with age. Tropical conditions are preferred. It prefers to grow on its own, being not very compatible with other trees. It tolerates most soils, as long as they are free draining.
Propagation is by means of seeds, which retain viability many months when kept dry. Seedling trees are slow to bear fruit; however, young trees can be shield-budded for more precocious bearing. A mature tree can bear about 160kg (350lb) of fruit annually.
Harvesting Fruit
The pods are harvested when mature, that is, when coloured cinnamon-brown. In many tropical countries they have been an important item of export, thanks to their long shelf life. The pulp is generally stripped from the shell and pressed into large cakes, seeds and all. These used to be packed for shipment on sacks made from palm leaves.
Timber Qualities
Tamarind timber is prized for its strength and termite resistance. It has a beautiful grain, yellow with red streaks, and is hard and durable. Furniture made from this tree indicated wealth in ancient Sri Lanka, where it was used to make rice pounders, mortars, side planks for boat wheels, axles and naves.
Fruit uses
Tamarind fruit pulp is found in the pea-like pods (up to 15cm long by 2.5cm across) surrounding one to twelve seeds. It is highly acid, contains 30% – 40% sugar and has high vitamin C and excellent keeping qualities. It is used extensively in Indian cooking to enrich the taste of savoury dishes (especially with meat). It is a popular ingredient in curries, chutneys, preserves and refreshing drinks. The acidic pulp is also used to clean silverware.
The fruit is acclaimed for its medicinal uses, either eaten straight, infused into tea, or added to decoctions or poultices. Its medicinal actions are refrigerant (useful for fevers), digestive (and helpful for deranged bile), carminative, laxative and antiscorbutic. The seeds are also used medicinally, ground up and made into a paste with cold water for applying to boils.
Leaf Uses
Leaves are eaten as a vegetable and are also used medicinally. Leaf juice is good for bilious fevers, urinary disorders and jaundice. A fresh leaf poultice is applied locally over swellings of ankles and joints, sprains, boils, sore eyes and scabies. Dried leaves powdered can be dusted over ulcers. The leaves yield a fixed dye which colours woollens red.
With its multiple products and functions the tamarind is excellent in larger permaculture gardens in warm areas.
Comments (13)
I have a healthy tamarind tree in my front yard in Mareeba far north Qld. If anyone wants tamarinds for free please let me know on this website.
Updated by editor on 14 May 2010: Chris tells us this offer has now ended. Thank you all.
Comment by Chris Murphy — June 10, 2009 @ 5:30 pm
Chris,
Would you please contact me re tamarind tree.
Regards
Vicki
Comment by Vicki Wright — October 14, 2009 @ 5:10 pm
Please contact me regarding tamarind tree. Thanks!
Comment by Brandi McGehee — October 23, 2009 @ 6:08 am
I would like to have a free tree, how do I go about it. thank you for the info it was great
Comment by Delmy — January 10, 2010 @ 5:09 pm
Chris,
Thank you for this information regarding tamarind trees. I would be very interested in any help you could provide as to acquiring tamarind seedling or seeds for my backyard. Look forward to your reply.
Regards
Roxanne
Comment by Roxanne Stanton — January 26, 2010 @ 7:22 pm
I would love to get free tamarind seedlings of any info where to get these trees.
regards
Tina
Comment by Tina — March 3, 2010 @ 8:21 am
Hey Tina just go buy some tamarind pulp with seeds from any Asian type grocer then dry out seeds and plant thats all I did and I now have three healthy seedlings Best of luck….Rob
Comment by Rob — March 10, 2010 @ 9:35 pm
i have 100s of free seedlings if you want them
Comment by gary gilliland — March 28, 2010 @ 3:48 pm
Chris,
Yes I would be interested in getting hold of some free tamarind tree seedlings. How do I go about receiving them?
Roxanne
Comment by Roxanne Stanton — March 28, 2010 @ 10:39 pm
100s of free seedlings?
will these trees be another weed in 50 years?
John
Comment by john forrest — May 31, 2010 @ 11:40 am
In 50 years time we will have much more understanding and an appreciation of life in general and we will have evolved beyond a weed prejudice view point.
Comment by Geoff Lawton — June 1, 2010 @ 9:00 pm
Hi Tamarind lovers, I am also a tamarind lover and would love and die for the leaves curry and chutney!! However I don’t know where these trees are in Australia. Just to let you know I am residing in Sydney, so any help from any one on where can I find these trees to take out some leaves, would be a great help. I can be contacted on cherupalli at hotmail dot com. Thanks & Regards, Rama Cherupalli.
Comment by Rama Cherupalli — July 18, 2010 @ 12:09 pm
Chris, would it be possible for me to get some premature leaves from you? I can pay you for that so please contact me on cherupalli at hotmail dot com. Thanks Chris, Rama Cherupalli.
Comment by Rama Cherupalli — July 18, 2010 @ 12:13 pm
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