Sour and tart spices

Sour spices give acidity without liquid. Sumac, tamarind, amchur, anardana, kokum and dried limes are used where a cook wants tang.

What makes them sour

Their fruits contain organic acids, such as tartaric acid in tamarind and malic acid in sumac. Amchur is dried raw mango powder, anardana is dried pomegranate seed, and kokum is the dried rind of a fruit from western India.

How cooks use them

They sour curries, chutneys, soups and kebabs. Tamarind is used in South Indian rasam and Thai pad thai sauce, sumac in Middle Eastern salads and meat, and dried limes in Persian and Gulf stews.

Tips

Sour spices store well and are handy where fresh citrus is scarce. Add them gradually and taste, as sourness builds.

Sour and tart on EveryMasala

The spices written up so far, best known first.

PartSeed Bark Root Flower Fruit Chilli Leaf Resin Bulb Stigma Blend Paste Seasoning

MealBreakfast Lunch Dinner Supper Snacks and tea time Drinks Desserts and sweets Street food Pickles and preserves Feasts and banquets

🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreMustard A pungent paste made from ground mustard seeds mixed with liquid and spices.Paste · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery

🇱🇰 Sri LankaLunumirisලුණු මිරිස් A traditional Sri Lankan condiment of ground chillies and saltHot and fiery · Sour and tart

🇴🇲 Oman and 3 moreDried lime Sun-dried limes from the Persian Gulf, used whole or ground to add sour depth to Middle Eastern dishes.Fruit · Sour and tart · Earthy and deep

🇫🇷 France and 1 moreDijon mustardMoutarde de Dijon A sharp condiment made from brown mustard seeds and white wine or verjuice, originating in Burgundy.Sharp and pungent · Sour and tart

🇯🇵 JapanGariガリ Thinly sliced young ginger pickled in sweet vinegar, served with sushi.Sweet and mellow · Sour and tart

🇮🇳 IndiaAmchoorआमचूर A sour powder made from dried unripe green mangoes, used to add tang to Indian dishes.Seed · Sour and tart · Citrus and bright

🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreCulantroជីរបន្លា A tropical herb with serrated leaves, offering a deep and pungent coriander flavour.Leaf · Herbal and green · Sharp and pungent

🇺🇸 United StatesCreole mustard A grainy paste of brown mustard seeds, vinegar, and horseradish from Louisiana.Paste · Sharp and pungent · Sour and tart

🇸🇾 Syria and 5 moreSumac A tart, crimson spice made from ground berries of the Rhus coriaria shrub.Seed · Sour and tart · Citrus and bright

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreGarden cress A fast-growing edible herb with peppery leaves and seeds used in salads and traditional medicine.Leaf · Sharp and pungent · Sour and tart

🇪🇸 Spain and 4 moreCaper The pickled flower buds of a drought-tolerant Mediterranean shrub.Flower · Sharp and pungent · Sour and tart

🇨🇳 China and 5 moreRoselle The deep red calyx of a hibiscus plant, steeped into a tart drink or cooked as a leafy green.Fruit · Sour and tart · Citrus and bright

🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreTorch gingerkecombrang The edible pink flower bud of a rhizomatous plant, used for sourness in Southeast Asian cooking.Flower · Sour and tart · Sharp and pungent

Sour and tart