What is Tamarind (or Sampalok)
Tamarind is a type of tree that grows in many tropical regions but is native to Africa. The Tamarind fruit, also called tamarind, grows in pod clusters. These pods look like large, brown pea pods.
Sampalok, or tamarind candy, is essentially a “pea” from the pod that has been dried, like a raisin, and coated in sugar.
Since it is a dried piece of fruit, there is a fairly large, hard seed in the middle of the candy that you need to watch for. Don’t just chomp into these or you’ll lose a tooth.
My wife says that the seeds are actually quite pretty, which is true.
What does Tamarind taste like?
I find the taste of Tamarind difficult to describe. It starts off bright, tangy, and maybe even a little bit sour (or bitter–hard to tell) but then tapers off into what I would describe as a dark, caramelly, citrusy flavor. It perhaps tastes similar to a dried date, but it is definitely more tangy. I would say the after-tone is very date-like.
If I were to combine flavors, I would say it would be a mix of caramel, lemon, lime, date, orange zest, brown sugar, and raisin. It is a very unique flavor with a lot going on.
Rating Filipino Tamarind Candy
I tasted tamarind and rated it using my proprietary hedonic food rating scale. If you want to see my taste test, check out the YouTube below:
My food rater scale rates foods on a scale of 1-10 based on presentation, smell, texture, taste, value in terms of calories, and value in terms of cost. Each variable uses the following chart:
Here is my rating for tamarind candy:
| Presentation | 7 |
| Smell | 6 |
| Texture | 7 |
| Taste | 6 |
| Value in terms of Calories | 5 |
| Value in terms of Cost | 6 |
| Total Score | 6.17 |
So, overall, I gave Sampalok, or Tamarind Candy, a total score of “it’s okay.”
Now that it’s been a bit since I tried it, I would say it maybe deserves a higher rating. It is kind of fun to eat and experience the flavor cycle of this candy.
It’s a very unique treat, so if that’s something you are looking for, this is a great candidate.
Where to get Tamarind Candy
I have not been to a Filipino grocery store where they have not carried Sampalok. So check out your local Filipino store if you want to try this. Otherwise, you can get it from an online Filipino store.
If you want to see other Filipino candy I’m trying, check out my post on Trying Filipino Candy & Treats. If you have any suggestions on something I should try (Filipino or not), let me know in the comments.
