First foods database
🟤 Tamarind for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies have tamarind? Yes, from about 6 months a little tamarind can flavour baby's food. Its sweet and sour pulp is used in curries, chutneys and sauces around the world.
Good source of: Magnesium, Potassium, Iron
How to serve tamarind by age
6 to 9 months
Use plain tamarind paste or pulp (soaked and sieved from the block) in small amounts in lentils, curries or stews. Avoid ready-made tamarind sauces with lots of salt or sugar. Soak a small piece of tamarind block in hot water for 10 minutes, squeeze and sieve out the seeds and fibres, then use the smooth liquid.
9 to 12 months
Add a touch to dal, sambar or rice dishes shared with the family. A little tamarind also balances the sweetness of squash or sweet potato.
12 months and up
Enjoy in family cooking; tamarind sweets are sugary and can be hard, so save them for older children.
Choking safety
Tamarind pods contain hard seeds and stringy fibres. Only give sieved pulp or paste, never whole pods. Tamarind sweets and candies are sticky and hard, so are not for babies or young toddlers.
Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).
Good to know
- Check jar labels for added salt and sugar.
- Tamarind is very sour; a small amount goes far.
Easy ideas
- Tamarind dal
- Chicken in a mild tamarind sauce
- Sambar with rice
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat tamarind?
Can babies have tamarind? Yes, from about 6 months a little tamarind can flavour baby's food. Its sweet and sour pulp is used in curries, chutneys and sauces around the world.
Is tamarind safe for babies?
Yes, a little tamarind cooked into food is fine from about 6 months.
Can tamarind help constipation?
It is traditionally used as a mild laxative, so keep amounts small.
Sources
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).