How many calories are in tamarind?

Raw tamarind pulp is 239 calories per 100g, which makes it the densest fruit most kitchens keep. A cup of pulp at 120g is 287 calories, and a single pod is about 5.

Why is tamarind so high in calories for a fruit?

Because it dries on the tree. Carbohydrate runs 62.5g per 100g and sugar 38.8g, with very little water left to dilute either. Dates go further still at 277 calories per 100g, and for the same reason.

Is tamarind keto-friendly?

No. Net carbs are 57.4g per 100g, so even a tablespoon of paste is worth counting. Tamarind is used in teaspoons rather than handfuls, which is the only thing keeping it workable on a low-carb day.

Is tamarind high in potassium?

Very. 628mg per 100g puts it near dates at 696mg per 100g and far ahead of figs at 232mg. A cup of pulp carries 754mg, though nobody eats a cup of it in one sitting.

Is tamarind good for digestion?

It has the reputation for a reason: 5.1g of fiber per 100g alongside tartaric and malic acid, which is the combination behind its use as a mild laxative across South Asia and West Africa. A few pods is a gentle dose; half a cup of pulp is not.

Tamarind vs dates: which is sweeter?

Dates, comfortably. Dates carry 66.5g of sugar per 100g against tamarind's 38.8g, and 277 calories per 100g against 239. Tamarind's sourness is what sends it into sauces and chutneys while dates go into desserts.

Is tamarind a good source of iron?

Unusually so for a fruit: 2.8mg per 100g, against dates at 0.9mg and raisins at 1.8mg. It also brings 74mg of calcium and 2.8g of protein per 100g, neither of which is typical of dried fruit.

Is tamarind candy the same as tamarind fruit?

No. Candied tamarind adds sugar, chilli and salt to the pulp and lands well above these numbers. Everything here describes raw pulp at 239 calories per 100g, which is also what a block of seedless tamarind is once you soak and strain it.

How do you use a block of tamarind?

Break off a piece, cover it in hot water for fifteen minutes, then push it through a sieve and throw the fibres and seeds away. What comes through is the pulp these figures describe, and it keeps about a week in the fridge or months in the freezer.

All Foods

Calories in Tamarind

USDA Verified · FDC 167763 · Sep 2026

287 calories

per 1 cup pulp (120g)

2.8g

Protein

62.5g

Carbs

0.6g

Fat

5.1g

Fiber

Per 100g raw

Log Tamarind in one photo

That took a search. Point Calvin at the plate and it takes about three seconds, with every food listed separately so you can fix anything it got wrong.