If there’s one thing we can’t get enough of these days, it’s tamarindo. We know what you may be thinking. What in the world is it anyways? An unusual-looking food with an equally unique flavor, tamarindo is first and foremost, a fruit. They grow in pods on tall, shady tamarind trees, which you can find in humid, tropical regions all around the world. Its flavor is an appetizing combination of dates, molasses, brown sugar and tart oranges. In fact, some even refer to tamarindo as the “date of India”. In experimenting with the ingredient this week, we’ve found ourselves obsessed with this Sparkling Tamarindo Cooler!
A little bit of tamarindo goes a long way. The flavor can be quite tart due to its high acidity. You can enjoy the pulp straight from the pod. However, many mix it with water or sugar to mellow out its potency. Nevertheless, its tangy taste makes it quite a popular ingredient in Mexican, Southeast Asian and other cuisines. You can find tamarindo in a variety of dishes such as condiments, desserts and drinks. And here’s a fun fact–tamarindo is actually one of the main ingredients in the popular Worcestershire sauce!
Tamarindo-flavored drinks are especially popular in Latin America. Today’s recipe for our Sparkling Tamarindo Cooler is a spin on one of Mexico’s most beloved agua frescas. If you’re looking for something refreshing to beat the heat this summer, this drink is a wonderful alternative to soda any day. The tamarindo cooler has that perfect combination of sweet and sour flavors. Plus, it’s chock full of vitamins and minerals as tamarindo is packed with plenty of nutrients.
Line the rim of your serving glass with a bit of Don Enrique® Pico de Gallo Seasoning and you’ll find that it tastes reminiscent of the tamarind candy you may have snacked on as a kid. Perfect for the upcoming season, we know you’ll love sipping on this libation for the warm summer days to come.
Sparkling Tamarindo Cooler
Ingredients
- 1 pound Melissa's Tamarindo shelled
- 3 cups Cold Water
- 3 1/4 cups sparkling natural mineral water
- 3 tablespoons Melissa's Organic Blue Agave Syrup or to taste
- 2 tablespoons Melissa's "Don Enrique" Pico De Gallo seasoning
- 2 tablespoons Granulated Sugar
Instructions
- Place the Tamarindo and the 3 cups of water in a pot and bring to a simmer. Using the back of a spoon, press and mash the Tamarindo pulp to help separate it from the seeds. Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until thickened. Pour the contents through a fine mesh strainer into a pitcher and let cool.
- Once cooled, add the sparkling water, juice from the limes and the agave, to taste.
- On a small plate, combine the pico de gallo seasoning with the sugar. Rub the rim of each glass with a lime wedge and then dip each rim into the pico de gallo/sugar mixture to create a decorative lip for your drink.
- Add ice to the glasses and fill with the tamarind cooler.
