Sumac | ground

Sumac, the culinary treasure of oriental cuisine, is a rather unknown spice in Western Europe. The dark red to purple fruits come from the sumac plants, which grow up to 3 meters high and are found from Central and Near East, the Eastern Mediterranean to Southern Europe. The berries have a pleasant acidity and freshness with slightly tart notes. Sumac is usually offered in ground or crushed form and is an important ingredient in many oriental dishes. Throughout the Arab world, sumac adds a delicate freshness to stews of all kinds and is also used in yogurt, dips, on vegetables, legumes or in salads. Sumac is an alternative to lemon or lime juice or a mild vinegar. Sumac is often mixed with sea salt before it is used for seasoning.