Sour tamarind coupled with the fresh sweetness of pears and the heart-warming flavors of cinnamon - my Tropical Tuesday series comes to an end with the last smoothie post for July, using tropical fruits from my current location Malaysia. It was super exciting for me to create a smoothie recipe each week with fruits that I rarely tried before.
Locals call it "kedondong" - The Malaysian pear
I have to be honest with you, it is not really a pear that goes into my smoothie, but a pretty unknown Malaysian fruit called kedondong by the locals. Our super friendly fruit vendor brought them along with our weekly fruit and veggie delivery, so that we could try something totally new.
He apparently got them from his neighbor’s garden and I have actually never seen them on the markets here in Kuala Lumpur. He told me that the locals eat them when they are green, but I let them turn a little yellow, which made the kedondongs a bit sweeter. Since your chances are high that you won’t find this fruit anywhere near your home and the taste resembles a pear, you can easily substitute the kedondongs.
Well, let’s now get to the hero of this smoothie mixture - tamarind. The main ingredient of this recipe is actually a legume, which is easily detectable by its bean-like pods. In many Asian countries it is used more like a spice, especially for sweet-sour dishes and some crazy travelers get the idea to put it into their smoothie creation.
Many stories with only one hero - Tamarind
The name tamarind comes from the Arabic language and translates to Indian date. This makes total sense if you look at the texture of tamarind flesh, which is sticky and creamy, pretty much like our beloved dates.
Tamarind has its origin in Africa, but soon made its way into the Indian kitchen. They declared the tree as sacred and told many legends about tamarind, for example that elephants get wiser if they eat the bark. The Burmese people also think highly of the tamarind tree and believe that its crown inhabits the rain god.
Here comes the recipe for your own tamarind story:
- 2-3 bananas
- 4 tamarind pods
- 3 kenonongs or alternatively 1/2 pear
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Let food be your medicine - Tamarind's health powers
Tamarind can not only be used in the area of creative cooking, but is also part of traditional medicine. The flesh itself makes a great remedy to treat diarrhea as well as constipation. Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it is also a food that can help you prevent many health conditions such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes. Tamarind is even know to support you in detoxifying your pineal gland.
The bark and leaves of the tamarind tree are also valuable, especially for the support in wound healing. Furthermore, the extract of the hard seeds inside the tamarind can aid in lowering blood sugar levels.
I find this legume super exciting, since it is so versatile and has such an interesting story behind it. Looking past only the preparation and deeper into the origin, uses and believes behind a certain food, makes you get to know your ingredients and opens your eyes for the beauty laying beneath their look.
(This post is taking part in the amazing Fruits and Veggies Monday Competition from @lenasveganliving.)
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Have a wonderful day and a fruitful journey ahead!
Yours, Anais
Nomadic adventuress since 2018 | Raw foodie | Health enthusiast | Minimalist | Freedom seeker | Passionate believer in a life full of bliss.
🍓Hungry for some more healthy nuggets? Check out my raw vegan posts:
- Wild Volcano Nice Cream (Raw+Vegan)
- Pink Dragonfruit Coconut Smoothie (Raw+Vegan)
- RAW+VEGAN Jicama Rice with Coconut Curry
- Carrot-Cashew Ice-Cream Cake with Papaya-Ginger Sauce
🌟Explore your full potential, with my health and lifestyle posts:
- Why I got rid of my TV - How to make the most of your time!
- Bowel movement right after your morning coffee? Demasking a hidden constipation
- My 10 Days on Watermelons - How to Regenerate Your Body
- Travel Hack - How I Stay in Beautiful Homes Around the World FOR FREE
🗺 Time for some more adventures - follow me around the world:
- Roadtrip Towards the Sun - Nyang Nyang Beach, Bali
- Hidden Treasure in the South of Bali - Melasti Beach
- Tropical Fruit Hunting in Kuala Lumpur - Chow Kit Market
- Hiking Under the Stars - Volcano Sunrise Trek in Bali
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Disclaimer: I am not a registered dietitian, doctor or trained detox expert. My goal is to share my knowledge from conclusive research and personal experiences to inspire you on your own raw adventure. I do not give medical advice and am not liable for any negative consequences you might face by following any information from this post - even if it is too much energy from a newly gained vibrant health and no idea how to deal with it. Always do your individual research when it comes to your precious health, it is absolutely worth the extra effort!