About Tamarind
Tamarind is the souring agent of South Indian cooking, harvested from old trees on village commons, roadsides and farms. India is the world's largest producer.
Where Tamarind Is Grown
The main growing states and districts are listed below. Tap a state for its markets, season, agencies and buyers.
| State | Main districts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Kolar, Chikkaballapur | Tumakuru is a major tamarind market. |
| Tamil Nadu | Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem, Dindigul | Tamarind from village trees. |
| Andhra Pradesh | Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa | A big tamarind area. |
| Telangana | Adilabad, Mahabubnagar | Tamarind collection. |
How It Is Grown
Pods are harvested in late winter, shelled, de-seeded and pressed into blocks. Seed is processed into tamarind kernel powder used in textiles and food.
Season
Harvest January–April.
Uses and Buyers
Households, restaurants, sauce and chutney makers, exporters, and textile and jute industries (kernel powder).
Quality and Price
Graded by colour (brown to dark), seed content, fibre and moisture.
Government Role
Tamarind has no minimum support price, so it is bought almost entirely by private traders, processors and exporters. Government support comes through horticulture and crop missions, market regulation, export promotion and research.
Companies, Markets and Bodies
Related: All crops · All states
Names are listed for reference only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation. The About and Explore buttons open Google in a new tab; results there are generated by Google and third parties, not by this site. Prices, MSP, export rules and schemes change often. Nothing here is financial, legal or purchasing advice. Full disclaimer