tamarind paste
Tamarind is a tropical fruit that grows in an oblong pod. It grows in Asia and also in Mexico.The fruit itself is sour, so any recipes that require tamarind paste will need some type of sugar to balance out the sour taste.
Tamarind paste is basically that, a paste made with the pulp of the fruit. You can make your own, but it is much easier to purchase it, and it is readily available. It is also really easy to use; all you need to do is stir it into recipes.