Sugars Tamarind

Tamarind seed polysaccharide, the gum fraction obtained from tamarind kernel polysaccharide, forms gels over a wide pH range in the presence of high sugar concentrations (>65 wt%), and it can therefore substitute for fmit pectins (65). 

The tamarind fruit (pod) has mainly pulp and seeds. The seeds are covered by a thin parchment, membrane-like structure. The pulp constitutes 30-50% of ripe fruit (Purseglove, 1987 Shankaracharya, 1998). The shell and fibre account for 11-30% and the seed constitutes around 25 10% (Chapman, 1984). The fruit pulp (both ripe and dried) contains mainly tartaric acid, reducing sugars, pectin, tannin, fibre and cellulose. The general composition of tamarind fruits is given in Table 20.1. 

Sugar confectionery (strawberry on top in all regions) and regions with very specific flavours and generally a high geographic diversity (chocolate within the top ten of Asia, liquorice (Europe), tamarind (Latin America), sour (North America)). 

Tamarind, Partially dried ripe fruit of Tamarindus indica L., Leguminosae, preserved in sugar or syrup. Habit. East Indies, India, Africa naturalized in West Indies, Cort-stit The pulp contains about 10% tartaric acid, also some citric and malic acids 25-40% invert sugar, pectin. Review Rao, Srivastava, in Industrial Gums, R, L. Whistler, Ed, (Academic Press, New York, 2nd ed., 1973) pp 369-411. 

The tamarind fruit that is grown in upper Egypt is brewed into a popular soft drink. The oil yield and fatty acid composition were very different from the Indian tamarind. The seeds contain 16.25% oil with a composition that is high in linoleic, oleic and lauric acids (Table 5.11). Lesser amounts of stearic and linolenic were present. The tamarind seed meal was also low in protein (2.66%) compared to other oil seeds (cottonseed, peanut) but does contain a substantial amount of sugar (25.28%) which would give the meal a high caloric value if used as an animal feed (Morad et al., 1978). 

Contains plant acids (16-18%) composed mainly of r/-tartaric acid (up to ca. 18%), with minor amounts of /-mahc acid. Citric acid has also been reported as a major component in the old literature, though it has not been detected in Indian tamarind (youngken). Other constituents include polyphenolics (catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidin), flavonoids (taxifolin, apigenin, eriodictyol, luteolin, and naringenin), sugars (20-40%), pectin, protein (2.8%), fat, vitamins (e.g., Bi and C), minerals (Ca, K, P, etc.), and tartrate (merck ... 

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