Tiny round fruits in brittle black velvet shells, holding a thin layer of tangy-sweet orange powder around a flat seed. A beloved West African market snack — sour candy straight off the tree.
Awin is a West African childhood — pennies' worth in a twist of paper, the black shells cracked between teeth, the sour pulp a playground delicacy. It is the homeland equivalent of the corner-store sour candy, except it is iron, vitamin C, and antioxidants instead of dye and sugar.
Tamarind plum's tangy pulp is rich in vitamin C and organic acids, traditionally used for fevers, colds, and as a digestive and against scurvy. It is a notable plant source of iron — relevant to the high anemia burden in Black women — and its vitamin C boosts that iron's absorption. Polyphenols and tannins give antioxidant and antimicrobial action behind its use for stomach upset. A tart, low-sugar natural candy that delivers real nutrients instead of empty sweetness.
The brittle black shell is cracked, the powdery tangy pulp licked off the flat seed; pulp also soaked in water to make a refreshing sour drink. Eaten by the handful as a snack.
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