Tamarind powder

Tamarind is a very well known herb and plant used by the Indians from a long time ago. The large pods of the fruit contain small seeds and a sour-pulp that, when dried, becomes extremely sour .With the increasing use of tamarind in food preparations, ready to use tamarind powder has found a market place. This is because it has a lesser fiber content, is ready to use directly in preparations and is not cumbersome or messy to use .The production process of tamarind powder comprises of first cleaning the tamarind fruit to remove the seeds and adhering dirt. The fiber is removed to the maximum extent possible. The pulp is then shredded in the shredder. It is then dried and mixed with starch to a maximum extent of 20% and then mix ground in a pin mill to form a coarse powder like mass. The material is then packed in pouches and cartons before distribution. It is used in a variety of food items like Sambar, Rasam, Chutneys, Sauces etc.