TAMARIND TREE Seeds | Tamarindus indica

STEP 1 - Boil fresh spring water in a kettle and allow it to rest for 5 mins. Put the seeds in a mug and fill it with the hot water. Allow the seeds to soak for 24 hours.

.

STEP 2 - Plant your Tamarind seeds in high quality seed raising mix.

STEP 3 - Water the soil with a watering can until it is damp. The soil should be saturated, but not over watered.

STEP 4 - Transplant into the garden when they reach 10cm -15cm.

The bark is astringent and tonic and its ash may be given internally as a digestive. Incorporated into lotions or poultices, the bark may be used to relives sores, ulcers, boils and rashes. It may also be administered as a decoction against asthma and amenorrhea and as a febrifuge.

Leaf extracts exhibit anti oxidant activity in the liver, and are a common ingredient in cardiac and blood sugar reducing medicines.

Young leaves may be used in fomentation for rheumatism, applied to sores and wounds, or administered as a poultice for inflammation of joints to reduce swelling and relieve pain.

A sweetened decoction of the leaves is good against throat infection, cough, fever and even intestinal worms.

The filtered hot juice of young leaves, and a poultice of the flowers, is used for conjunctivitis.

The leaves are warmed and tied to affected areas in order to relieve swellings and pains, particularly sprains.

They are also used for bathing sores or to bathe persons suffering from measles or allergies.

The leaves and flowers are used to make a sweetened tea that is drunk by children as a remedy for measles.

They were also used in a preparation which was drunk in early Guyana as a malaria remedy.

A decoction of the flower buds is used as a remedy for children's bedwetting and urinary complaints.

The fruit is aperient and laxative. A syrup made from the ripe fruit is drunk in order to keep the digestive organs in good condition, and also as a remedy for coughs and chest colds. The flesh of the fruit is eaten to cure fevers and control gastric acid.

The fruit pulp may be used as a massage to treat rheumatism, as an acid refrigerant, a mild laxative and also to treat scurvy.

Powdered seeds may be given to cure dysentery and diarrhoea.

Seed pods can be eaten raw or cooked. Harvested when fully grown but still green and tender, they are used as a seasoning and also to make juices and paste. The immature pods are used in a variety of ways, being eaten fresh mixed with spices, pickled like green mango or added whole to soups, stews and sauces. The pods are usually 5cm - 15cm long.

When fully mature, the pods contain a sticky paste which can be eaten raw, used to make drinks, jellies, syrups and mixed with salt, is a favourite flavouring in the curries of India. This paste is usually quite sour due to its content of tartaric, acetic and citric acids, though sweet forms can also be found. The sweet fruited forms are considered a delicacy and are eaten raw. Mixed with water, the pulp makes a pleasant lemonade-like drink.

Mature seeds are dried then toasted or boiled and the shell is removed. The seed can be ground into a flour. The roasted seed is also used as a coffee substitute.

Young leaves and flowers are eaten raw or cooked. An agreeably sour flavour, they go well cooked with other blander leaves. Young leaves can be added to salads. Seedlings, when about 30cm tall, can also be used as a vegetable.

The dense shade makes it suitable for firebreaks as no grass will grow under the trees. The deep roots make it very resistant to storms and suitable for windbreaks.

The pulp of the fruit, sometimes mixed with sea salt, is used to polish silver, copper and brass. It is normally used when the pulp is over-ripe.

The seed contains pectin that can be used for sizing textiles.

Ground, boiled, and mixed with gum, the seeds produce a strong wood cement.

An amber coloured seed oil - which resembles linseed oil - is suitable for making paints and varnishes and for burning in lamps.

Both leaves and bark are rich in tannin. The bark tannins can be used in ink or for fixing dyes.

The leaves yield a red dye, which is used to give a yellow tint to clothe previously dyed with indigo.

Sapwood is light yellow, heartwood is dark purplish brown, very hard, durable and strong, and takes a fine polish. It is used for general carpentry, sugar mills, wheels, hubs, wooden utensils, agricultural tools, mortars, boat planks, toys, panels and furniture. In North America, tamarind wood has been traded under the name of 'Madeira mahogany’.

Provides a good firewood and it also produces an excellent charcoal.