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DISH RESEARCH · Snack

Tamarind Balls

Sugar-coated tamarind balls with Scotch bonnet and garlic.

Tamarind Balls — illustrative food image

About Tamarind Balls

Tamarind balls are a Caribbean sweet made from sticky fruit pulp and sugar. Chris De La Rosa's Trinidad-style tambran balls recall the large treats sold outside his primary school, with seeds retained in the pulp.

Golden brown sugar balances tamarind's sourness, while raw garlic and Scotch bonnet bring a pronounced spicy edge. A coating of white granulated sugar adds another layer of sweetness.

The pulp forms rounded, sticky balls with a granular sugar exterior. Their shape is soft and slightly irregular.

Allergens in this recipe

Allergen details are not yet confirmed.

Ingredients vary by restaurant. Confirm your allergens with staff before ordering.

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Ingredients in Tamarind Balls

Chris De La Rosa's Trinidad-style sweet, spicy and sour tambran balls.

Ingredient details & uncertainties

Allergen information is incomplete. Unconfirmed details do not establish that an allergen is absent.

  • Tamarind pulp with seeds: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Actual whole-pod version retains seeds; broader pulp candidate. Seedless paste alternative not selected.
  • Scotch bonnet pepper: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. First named pepper choice selected.
  • Golden brown sugar: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Broader brown-sugar candidate; golden form retained. Same sugar used in pepper/garlic paste and conditional texture adjustment.
  • White granulated sugar: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Separate white coating from brown-sugar mixture.
  • Garlic: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
  • Water (optional): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Explicit conditional method addition if mixture does not hold together.

Origins & food traditions

Tambran balls are a familiar Trinidadian childhood sweet, sold alongside preserved fruits by school vendors.

Countries

Cuisines & regions

AI-generated illustration of one possible presentation. Recipes and ingredients vary; the image does not establish allergen content.

Sources & references
  1. Sweet Spicy Sour Tambran Balls - Chris De La Rosa, CaribbeanPot