Tamarind juice is a refreshing Middle Eastern drink made from sweetened steeped tamarind, chilled, and served over ice with optional floral water for a fragrant touch.
In Lebanese households, making cold drinks from scratch has always been part of the rhythm of home.
For a while I stopped, it felt outdated, and store-bought was just easier. But I've been intentionally bringing that tradition back, and it's one of the better decisions I've made.
There's something grounding about knowing exactly what's in your family's glass. If you love Middle Eastern cold drinks, you'll also want to try my apricot drink, carob drink, lemon and mint juice, and licorice juice.
Flavor Profile
In Arabic, tamarind juice is called aseer tamer hindi - juice of the Indian date.
The flavor is naturally tart with a mild underlying sweetness, like a sour cherry without the cherry. A sweetener brings it into balance, softening the edge without losing that bold, tangy character that makes this drink so distinctive.
A Drink With History
Tamer hindi has been sold by street vendors across Lebanon, the broader Levant and Middle East for generations, poured cold from large urns, especially during Ramadan when it's a staple for breaking the fast.
It's one of those drinks that carries a sense of place. Making it at home connects you to something much older than any recipe.
Is Tamarind Juice Good for You?
Beyond the flavor, tamarind brings some genuine nutritional value.
It is rich in antioxidants, which are natural compounds that help protect your cells from damaging free radicals, unstable molecules linked to aging and many diseases. It is also rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, nutrients known to have positive effects on cholesterol levels, and has traditionally been used to settle digestive discomfort.
For a more detailed breakdown, Cleveland Clinic has a solid overview. As with anything, moderation is key, this recipe uses a modest amount of tamarind per serving.
Ingredients
The complete list of ingredients with measurements, can be found in the full recipe card below.
The star is the tamarind block. Compressed raw tamarind pulp, sometimes seedless, sometimes not. I always check that it's 100% tamarind with nothing added. You'll find it at a large Middle Eastern grocer (smaller shops don't always carry it) or at a Southeast Asian grocery store.
For sweetener, white sugar is the traditional choice. Maple syrup works well as a swap and is my preference. And while optional, floral water is totally Lebanese, rose water, orange blossom water, or a combination of both lifts the whole drink.
Steep, Strain and Chill
The full set of instructions are found in the below printable recipe card.
- Steep the tamarind pulp in boiling water for 4 hours.
- Stir in sugar and floral water. Strain through a muslin cloth or fine mesh sieve. Transfer to a pitcher, chill, and serve over ice.
Janelle's Tips
- Four hours of steeping does the job. Overnight gives you a deeper, more intense flavor if you have the time.
- Flavor too strong? Add a little extra water to pull it back.
- Store in the fridge for up to 7 days without ice. Add ice only when serving so it stays fresh and undiluted.
- There may be some separation during storage. Just give it a stir before serving.
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Recipe
Tamarind Juice
Ingredients
- 3Ā½ ounces Tamarind pulp sold as a block in stores
- 4 cups Water boiling
- ā cup Sugar I prefer maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Orange blossom water or rose water, optional
Instructions
- Break the tamarind block into pieces and place in a large bowl. Pour over the boiling water. Once cool enough to handle, use your hands, a masher, or the back of a fork to work the tamarind into the water, squeezing and breaking it up until the pulp dissolves into the liquid. Leave to soak for 4 hours.
- Give it a stir, then strain through a fine mesh sieve or muslin cloth, pressing firmly to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the seeds and fibre.
- Stir in the sugar and orange blossom water or rose water if using. Taste and adjust sweetness, it should be tart and bold, not sharp and overpowering.Transfer to a pitcher and chill thoroughly. Serve over ice.
Video
Nutrition
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
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