Yuanjiang Tamarind

Yuanjiang Tamarind

　　Yuanjiang tamarind is a specialty of Yuanjiang County, Yuxi City, Yunnan Province. Tamarind comes in sweet and sour varieties, with the sweet variety being a later improved strain. The difference between the two lies in their taste—one is sour and the other is sweet.

　　Tamarind’s scientific name is Tamarindus indica, also known as "木罕" (in Dai language), and it is produced in Yunnan. It looks similar to a sausage, with a hard shell enclosing thick pulp. The pulp is surrounded by two or three leaf-vein-like “tendons,” and inside the pulp are several seeds (kernels). Tamarind comes in sweet and sour types—the sweet type is neither bitter, sour, spicy, nor astringent, but actually quite sweet, resembling the taste of preserved fruit. Sweet tamarind is essentially a natural fruit preserve.

　　Tamarind, also known as Tamarindus indica or "木罕" (in the Dai language), is a specialty that looks like a peanut on the outside but has the texture of a dried longan inside. It is a tropical fruit native to the lowland valleys of Yunnan with a hot climate, and comes in two types: sweet and sour. It grows in areas such as Yuanmou, Binchuan, Yuanjiang, and Xishuangbanna. It is a large tree that can reach up to 25 meters in height. It tolerates poor soil and drought but is sensitive to cold. The leaves grow oppositely, and the pods are slightly curved, measuring 1.5–2.5 cm in width and 5–10 cm in length. The pulp is brown. There are both sweet and sour types. It contains 3.1% protein, 71.8% carbohydrates, 3.0% fiber, as well as vitamins C, A, B1, B2, calcium, phosphorus, and iron.

　　The pulp of tamarind is rich in various elements such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron. Among all fruits, it has the highest calcium content. It has the effects of cooling the body, relieving heat, stimulating appetite, and strengthening the spleen. Directly sucking on the sweet tamarind can stimulate saliva production to relieve summer heat, soothe coughs, dissolve phlegm, alleviate sore throats, aid digestion, clean and strengthen teeth. It is a health food suitable for all ages.

　　It has high health benefits and therapeutic effects, helping prevent diarrhea, bloating, paralysis, stroke, scurvy, and can kill human parasites. It also helps alleviate alcohol and datura poisoning. When mixed with salt, it can be used as a liniment for rheumatism.