Sour and tart
Tamarind, amchur, sumac and dried lime: acid from the spice rack.
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.
🇮🇹 ItalyMostardamostarda di frutta
A northern Italian condiment of candied fruit in a sharp mustard syrupBlend · Sweet and mellow · Sharp and pungent
🇯🇵 JapanYuzu koshō柚子胡椒
A fermented Japanese paste of chili peppers and yuzu citrus peel.Paste · Hot and fiery · Citrus and bright
🇱🇰 Sri LankaLunumirisලුණු මිරිස්
A traditional Sri Lankan condiment of ground chillies and saltHot and fiery · Sour and tart
🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreMustard
A pungent paste made from ground mustard seeds mixed with liquid and spices.Paste · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇮🇳 IndiaChaat masala
A tangy Indian spice blend for savory snacks and fruit saladsBlend · Sour and tart · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 India and 3 moreBlack saltकाला नमक
A kiln-fired rock salt with a sulphurous aroma used in South Asian cooking and Ayurveda.Sharp and pungent · 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
🇺🇸 United StatesCreole mustard
A grainy paste of brown mustard seeds, vinegar, and horseradish from Louisiana.Paste · Sharp and pungent · Sour and tart
🇸🇩 Sudan and 5 moreTamarind
The sweet and sour pulp of a tropical tree pod used in sauces and drinks.Fruit · Sweet and mellow · 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
🇵🇸 Palestine and 4 moreSyrian oreganoزَعْتَر
The aromatic herb native to the Levant, essential for making za'atar.Warm and sweet-spiced · Herbal and green
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Yuzu koshō: njt, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Black salt: Jellyboots ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Sicilian sumac: Dedda71, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Syrian oregano: Kippi70, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mustard: Rainer Zenz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mostarda: Silvio, CC BY 2.0, source
- Creole mustard: Mwaters1120, Public domain, source
- Chaat masala: Khurram Shehzad / Flickr user: Lekum's ( https://www.flickr.com/photos, CC BY 2.0, source
- Tamarind: B.navez, CC BY 2.5, source
- Lunumiris: Yasith Silva, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Amchoor: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Garden cress: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source