Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Tamarind flowers

Analyse my DNA, and you will definitely find at least a little bit of Tamarind. It is the one seasoning element most of my favourite South Indian dishes share. The Bombay street food I am almost addicted to would be meaningless without huge dollops of tamarind sauce.

I’ve grown up with memories of drying Tamarind fruits in the courtyard, cracking the shells open, and storing the fruit in huge ceramic containers. I’m guilty of surreptitiously stuffing myself with the unripe green tamarind. I’ve followed the germination cycle of tamarind seeds.


But the tamarind flower I never met till last week.

_____
A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.


Isn't she beautiful?

27 comments:

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Spectacular photo's Rayna I have never seen those like thar before.
Love the drabble also.

Yvonne.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Spectacular photo's Rayna I have never seen those like thar before.
Love the drabble also.

Yvonne.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

How beautiful and delicate!

Laura Eno said...

Beautiful photos and a great drabble too!

Unknown said...

Tamarind - or Tamarindo in Mexico - is very popular here. Do you make it into a drink? They also put chili on it (well, they put chili on everything) and make it candy.

Beautiful photos.

CD

LTM said...

I'm trying to think if I've ever had Tamarind... now I want to try some! :D (or refresh my memory...)

The flower looks like an orchid crossed w/a lily. beautiful~

Sueann said...

I agree with LTM! This flower looks like an orchid! Beautiful!
I don't think I have ever had anything with Tamarind in it. Must look for that and give it a try.
Hugs
SueAnn

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I've never seen the flower, either.

Tina said...

I love Indian food, but can't say I know exactly which spice is tamarind. Great capture of their delicate flowers.

Hart Johnson said...

I love tamarind! But you ought to know that, since we're twins and all. I had now idea it came from such a lovely plant.

Jemi Fraser said...

So pretty - I don't think I've tried tamarind - but the flower is gorgeous. :)

RosieC said...

Excellent drabble, and really wonderful pictures!

Denise Covey said...

Love the pictures and the drabble..:)

Jules said...

I have never seen the flower before either but it looks beautiful and delicate. Great pics.

Ann Best said...

These are absolutely stunning photographs!

Theres just life said...

She is definitely beautiful, and so is the drabble. You've got me hooked.

Ella said...

Beautiful photos, visually stunning!
I remember seeing the pods in the Navy commissary, fascinating~

Anonymous said...

That's beautiful. I've heard of the flower, but I'm not familiar with it.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I always love your drabbles. You write so beautifully, Rayna. The pictures are almost as lovely as your words. :-)

Tabitha Bird said...

Beautiful flower! Love that drabble too :)

Jan Morrison said...

Lovely photo and wonderful drabble. Both delicate and strong at the same time.
I love tamarind...

Jan Morrison said...

Lovely photo and wonderful drabble. Both delicate and strong at the same time.
I love tamarind...

dipali said...

Gorgeous! We used to catch our bus home from school under tamarinds- ate plenty of tamarind leaves too, as well as the fruit. But I'd never seen the flower before either.

Deb and Barbara said...

MMM, tamarind. One of my favourite flavours! But I've never seen the flower. Stunning!
B

Southpaw said...

Oh so beautiful.

Patricia Stoltey said...

She is beautiful. I have never seen one of these before.

Natasha said...

Thank you, everyone. And just in case you are wondering, they flowers are rather small- no larger than an inch.

@ Clarissa - we have that drink too, though it is as a seasoning that I like it best.

@ Tina - it is the sour one- dark brown in colour

@ Ellie - the pods are really pretty too, aren't they- green and brown.

@ Dipali - eating those leaves was a highpoint of our childhood, wasn't it? Doesn't taste as good any more :-(

@ Tami/ Jan- we have a taste in common!

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