Imli
Tamarind: the sticky, sour pod pulp that gives sourness to chutneys, sambar and street food.
Also: tamarind, puli, chinch, tamar hindi
Imli is the pulp of the tamarind tree, Tamarindus indica, a native of tropical Africa now rooted in India, where it has been grown for centuries. Brown, fibrous pods hold seeds in sticky pulp that is pressed into blocks or sold as paste. The taste is tart, fruity and slightly sweet. It sours sambar and rasam, forms the sweet-sour chutney of chaat, and appears in Thai pad Thai, Mexican candy and Worcestershire sauce. The name tamar hindi in Arabic means date of India, which gave the plant its Latin name. Soak the pulp in warm water, then strain out seeds and fibre.