Character
The Story of Tamarind
Tamarind delivers a tart, honeyed sweetness with dark caramel undertones. This tropical fruit ingredient adds acidic brightness and a syrupy depth that few other naturals can replicate.
Heritage
Tamarind originated in tropical Africa around 4000 years ago before spreading through Indian Ocean trade routes to South and Southeast Asia, where it became naturalized across the tropical belt. The species name Tamarindus indica reflects an early misattribution to India. The common name tamarind derives from the Arabic tamar hindi, meaning Indian date, coined by Arab traders who encountered the fruit in Indian ports and named it for its resemblance to the date palms of their homeland. In perfumery, tamarind entered relatively late compared to ancient materials like myrrh and frankincense. Its complex sweet-tart character found a natural home in modern niche perfumery, where the appetite for edible, gourmand ingredients has driven renewed interest in food-derived naturals.
At a Glance
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Feature this note
India
Primary source region
Ingredient Details
Supercritical CO₂ extraction
Fruit pulp
Did You Know
"A single tamarind tree can live over 200 years, making it one of the longest-lived tropical fruit-bearing species on record."