Origin and history
The tamarind tree is a tropical tree native to East Africa, now widely cultivated in India, South Asia, and the Caribbean. Its fruit, the tamarind , has been known since ancient times for its digestive, refreshing, and purifying properties . Arab physicians called it the " date of India " and used it to relieve digestive problems and fever. Tamarind remains a key ingredient in traditional African and Asian medicine, prized for its tangy flavor and natural benefits.