Tamarind is one of the most common flavors of agua fresca in Mexico, and it’s my absolute favorite. Fresh tamarind pods are available at many specialty markets. Those from Asia are sweeter and more velvety and tend to have more pulp, whereas those from Mexico and the Caribbean are much more tart—which is what I love about them! This beverage has a brownish-orange color, but don’t be put off by it.
Ingredients
makes about 4 cups
Step 1
Peel the tamarind pods by hand and discard the outer shell. It’s okay if there are still little bits of shell stuck to the flesh, as the beverage will be strained.
Step 2
Put the tamarind flesh in a saucepan, seeds and all. Add the water, place over medium heat, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the pulp is very soft, about 45 minutes.
Step 3
Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher, pressing the solids with the back of a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid and tamarind pulp as possible. Add the sugar and stir until it dissolves. Taste and add a little more sugar if you like. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled. Serve over ice.
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