Tamarind

Tamarind

　　Also known as sour tamarind, it is a tropical evergreen tree of the Fabaceae family. It thrives in sandy soil, with yellow or orange flowers arranged in racemes and long elliptical pods. The wood is hard and dense—farmers in Sanya often use it to make axles, wheels, and chopping boards for oxcarts. The pods serve both as a sweet-and-sour fruit and, when pickled, as an excellent condiment for Hainanese dishes. Its tender leaves can be used to season seafood and also as a water clarifier.

　　 　　Produced throughout Hainan.