Tamarind is a sweet, tart, and creamy textured fruit in the shape of a bean. According to ayurvedic medicine as well as Indonesian jamu medicine tamarind is a natural tonic for indigestion, constipation, a stimulant for the liver, and can also be applied topically to soothe minor sunburns.

Tamarind fruits can be sweetened and consumed as a sweet-treat, or salted and boiled to make an amazing vegan soup broth.

In this recipe, I will combine three amazing tropical flavours which will cool you off on a hot summer day.

1 cup of fresh tamarind –shelled

1 inch knob of ginger, peeled.

The juice of 2 limes

2 cups of water

Sugar to taste

1 can of soda water

Cover the tamarind with water and boil for 5 minutes; this will dislodge the seeds. Pour liquid through a sieve into a pot or bowl and pick out all seeds, and save the pulp. Add the remaining pulp to the liquid and refrigerate till cool (1-2 hours).

Add the remaining ingredients to a blender, and blend together until it has a uniform consistency.

Fill half a glass with soda water, and half with tamarind lime juice. Serve. Ahhh, refreshing.