Tamarind
Tamarind is the fruit pod of Tamarindus indica, a long lived tropical tree. Inside a brittle shell sits a sticky brown pulp wrapped around hard seeds, sour from tartaric acid and sweet from its sugars at the same time. The pulp is sold as whole pods, as pressed seedless blocks, as concentrated paste and as spray dried powder, and is used in Indian, Thai, Mexican and West African cooking, in sauces, chutneys, curries, soft drinks and confectionery, and industrially as a natural acidulant and as a source of tamarind kernel powder used as a textile and food thickener.
Listed tamarind markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Tamarind is graded on the form it is presented in, on the tartaric acid content that carries its sourness, and on moisture, seed and fibre content.
Form and presentation
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Whole podsShell intact, sold by mass | Retail and wet market presentation. Shell, pulp and seed all present. |
| Seedless pulp blockCompressed slab, sold by mass | Shell and most seed removed, pulp pressed into a block. The principal traded form. |
| Pulp with seedCompressed slab, sold by mass | Shell removed, seed retained. Cheaper, and the buyer separates. |
| Paste and concentrateDeclared with the concentration factor | Pulp extracted in water and reduced. The concentration factor is a contract term. |
| Spray dried powderMilled to a stated mesh, with carrier declared | Any maltodextrin or anticaking carrier is named and its percentage stated. |
| ColourCIELAB coordinates on a stated instrument, or against a sealed sample | Ranges from light brown to near black by variety, ripeness and age. |
| Sweet or sour typeVariety declared | Sweet types from Thailand are eaten as fruit; sour types are the culinary and industrial feedstock. |
| Fibre and shell fragmentsMaximum percentage by mass | Weighed after separation. The main physical defect in pressed blocks. |
| Seed contentMaximum percentage by mass | Weighed after separation. Zero is contracted only on seedless grades. |
| Extraneous matterMaximum percentage by mass | Determined per ISO 927. |
Analytical requirements
12 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Total titratable acidity as tartaric acidPercentage by mass | Determined by titration. The measure of sourness and the primary commercial specification. |
| pHMeasured on a calibrated meter in a stated dilution | Reported alongside acidity. Governs preservation in the finished product. |
| Total soluble solidsDegrees Brix at a stated temperature | Measured by refractometer. The concentration measure for pastes and concentrates. |
| Reducing sugarsPercentage by mass | Determined by titration or chromatography. |
| MoistureMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 939. Sets mould risk and shipping mass. |
| Water activityMeasured on a calibrated instrument | The mould and fermentation risk measure for a high sugar, high moisture paste. |
| Total ashMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 928. |
| Acid insoluble ashMaximum percentage by mass | Determined by ISO 930. |
| Sulphur dioxideMilligrams per kilogram | Where used as a preservative, declared and tested against destination market limits. |
| AflatoxinsMicrograms per kilogram | B1 and the sum of B1, B2, G1 and G2. |
| Pesticide residuesMilligrams per kilogram | Tested against destination market maximum residue limits. |
| Microbiological limitsColony forming units per gram, and absence of Salmonella in a stated mass | Yeasts and moulds are the controlling count on this product. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| India | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Thailand | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Myanmar | Southeast Asia | Origin |
| Vietnam | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Philippines | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Bangladesh | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Sri Lanka | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Pakistan | South Asia | Destination |
| China | East Asia | Destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| South Korea | East Asia | Destination |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Mexico | North America | Origin and destination |
| Costa Rica | Central America | Origin |
| Guatemala | Central America | Origin |
| Colombia | South America | Origin |
| Brazil | South America | Origin and destination |
| Peru | South America | Origin |
| Nigeria | Africa | Origin |
| Senegal | Africa | Origin |
| Ghana | Africa | Origin |
| Kenya | Africa | Origin |
| Tanzania | Africa | Origin |
| Sudan | Africa | Origin |
| Madagascar | Africa | Origin |
| Egypt | Africa | Origin and destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Turkiye | Middle East | Destination |
| Netherlands | Europe | Destination |
| Germany | Europe | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Europe | Destination |
| France | Europe | Destination |
| Spain | Europe | Destination |
| United States | North America | Destination |
| Canada | North America | Destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Destination |
| South Africa | Africa | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the crop is taken at origin. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is processing, grading and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jan to Apr, arrival Mar to JunTamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra pod through the dry season from January. | ||||||
| Thailand | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest Dec to Mar, arrival Feb to MayPhetchabun and the north pod from December. Both sweet eating and sour culinary types. | ||||||
| Myanmar | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jan to Mar, arrival Mar to MayCentral dry zone pods from January to March. | |||||||
| Mexico | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jan to Apr, arrival Mar to JunGuerrero, Colima and Jalisco pod through the first quarter. | ||||||
| Indonesia | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jul to Oct, arrival Sep to DecJava and Nusa Tenggara pod in the second half of the year. | ||||||
| Nigeria | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest Dec to Mar, arrival Mar to JunNorthern savannah pods through the harmattan season. | |||||
| Senegal | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jan to Mar, arrival Mar to MaySahel belt pods early in the year. | |||||||
| Kenya | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jan to Aug, arrival Apr to NovCoastal and eastern regions pod in two windows. | ||
| Vietnam | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest Dec to Feb, arrival Feb to AprSouthern provinces pod around the turn of the year. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and stock already sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for tamarind. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading0813.40 Other dried fruit, including tamarind
2008.99 Tamarind pulp or paste, otherwise prepared - PackingJute or PP woven bags of 25 kg to 50 kg for whole spice, multiwall paper sacks for ground, and foil-lined or vacuum cartons for volatile and high value grades. Food grade liner, fumigation or steam sterilisation certificate where the destination requires it.
- Container loading20ft: 12 t to 18 t depending on bulk density. 40ft is normally volume limited before it reaches its weight limit. Ground and low density spice ships light and prices on cubic, not tonnage.
- Contract and arbitrationASTA cleanliness specifications for United States trade on Association of Food Industries contracts with AFI arbitration in New York. European trade on European Spice Association quality minima and the terms of the importing association, arbitration under ICC rules or the seat named in the contract.
- Destination limitsEU: aflatoxin B1 and total limits under Regulation 2023/915, ochratoxin A limits, pesticide MRLs under Regulation 396/2005, and Salmonella absence in 25 g. Ethylene oxide is not authorised in the EU and remains the most common rejection cause on spice. US: FDA FSMA preventive controls and ASTA cleanliness, with standing import alerts for Salmonella on several origins.
Common questions
What grades of tamarind does SIP Global trade?
We quote 22 published grades of tamarind, including Whole pods - Shell intact, sold by mass, Seedless pulp block - Compressed slab, sold by mass, Pulp with seed - Compressed slab, sold by mass, Paste and concentrate - Declared with the concentration factor, Spray dried powder - Milled to a stated mesh, with carrier declared and Colour - CIELAB coordinates on a stated instrument, or against a sealed sample. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is tamarind graded?
Tamarind is graded on the form it is presented in, on the tartaric acid content that carries its sourness, and on moisture, seed and fibre content. Grading runs on 2 systems: Form and presentation and Analytical requirements.
Where does SIP Global trade tamarind?
We trade tamarind in India, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Bangladesh and 32 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is tamarind harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are India: harvest jan to apr, arrival mar to jun; Thailand: harvest dec to mar, arrival feb to may; Myanmar: harvest jan to mar, arrival mar to may; Mexico: harvest jan to apr, arrival mar to jun; Indonesia: harvest jul to oct, arrival sep to dec. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for tamarind?
Tamarind is normally classified under HS 0813.40 (other dried fruit, including tamarind) and HS 2008.99 (tamarind pulp or paste, otherwise prepared). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for tamarind?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed tamarind market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- Codex AlimentariusFAO and WHO food standards
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.