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Sumac

Sumac: Turkish Spice with Many Uses

Rhus coriaria L.

Origin: Turkey

Sumac: Spice for a Thousand Recipes

The sumac (sumach, often searched online as sumacco or sumac) is the drupe of the Rhus coriaria L. plant, which grows in tropical areas and in Africa, especially North Africa. It used to be widely cultivated in Sicily, but now obtaining Sicilian sumac is almost impossible. This oriental spice is mainly used in a large part of Middle Eastern cuisine, especially in Turkey, Iran, and Maghreb countries. In ancient times, its use was varied: besides being used as a spice to season dishes, sumac was also used in tanning leather thanks to the high percentage of antioxidant tannins found inside its drupes. To maintain this potential, sumac was harvested before ripening (tannins often serve the plant to discourage birds from eating them before ripening). In fact, if we let the fruit ripen, the tannic component will decrease significantly (so that birds can now eat the fruits and spread the seeds in the environment, ensuring the survival of the species).

Sumac: Plant

Sumac is the name of a genus of ornamental plants with red berries, used for their properties. Their uses are varied, not only in recipes or to prepare infusions, as the berries of some sumac plants are used to prepare a varnish and in leatherworking. The branches of sumac are covered in a downy hair and the flowers are whitish. The fruits, or berries, are drupe of dark red color that are dried and ground to create the sumac spice. However, there are several varieties of sumac plants: Sicilian sumac, Rhus coriaria, from which the sumac spice sold on Terza Luna is obtained, named so because it was very common in Sicily, although now it is much rarer, Rhus glabra and Rhus aromatica, typical of the United States but used only for ornamental purposes, wild sumac, American sumac or Virginia sumac, Rhus typhina, which is also found in some areas of Italy and used only for ornamental purposes or as a dye. The sumac plant sold on Terza Luna, Rhus coriaria, is the genus of sumac found in Europe and the Middle East, a shrub that grows above 800 meters above sea level, whose dark red berries cannot be consumed fresh as they are poisonous but are used dried to create a very aromatic spice.

Sumac: Citrusy Flavored Spice

Sumac is a spice that has a very pleasant citrusy taste that will easily fit into your fish dishes, or in salads emulsified with oil. Sumac as a spice can also be added to the typical hummus. As always, a little of this fantastic spice is enough to give dishes a magical touch different from the usual! It is a spice obtained from the fruits of the sumac plant, harvested before ripening, dried, and then ground to create a spice with a flavor reminiscent of lemon, especially used in the Middle East in many recipes.

Properties of Sumac

Numerous studies attest that among the properties of sumac there are mainly antioxidant properties, due to gallic acid, a very active ingredient present in the drupes. The activity that this molecule performs would also serve to protect DNA from damage and natural oxidative processes, such as anti-tumor. The percentages of antioxidants measured in sumac thanks to the ORAC method, far exceed those of fruits and vegetables normally considered excellent antioxidants. You can consult the scale in this article. Sumac powder can also be used instead of salt to season dishes. An excellent natural remedy to avoid raising blood pressure!

The main properties of sumac:

• Antioxidant
• Antibacterial
• Anti-ischemic thanks to gallotannins
• Lowers blood sugar
• Acts against free radicals

Is Sumac Poisonous?

Sumac berries cannot be consumed fresh as they are poisonous, and must undergo drying processes to remove their toxicity. Consuming large quantities of sumac as a spice can have undesirable effects, making it toxic and causing dizziness and intestinal disorders.

Sumac: Recipes and How to Use It in Cooking

In our culture, sumac is not particularly used unlike in Eastern countries where this Turkish spice is employed to flavor many dishes. Salads, legumes, vegetables, are just some of the dishes that can be flavored with Turkish sumac. Let's not forget about fish: its intense aroma combined with the delicate flavor of fish will make the dish even more tasty and pleasant.

If combined with thyme and sesame, we will create zaatar, a typical blend used to season meat. Flavoring rice will be easy thanks to Turkish sumac: you can quickly cook a simple but tasty dish.

Thanks to the various formats of sumac for sale on Terza Luna, you can enrich your dishes giving them a particular taste and aroma.

With a tart taste reminiscent of lemons, slightly pungent and spicy, they will color your dishes, possibly replacing salt.

Contraindications of Sumac

The properties of sumac powder make it a powerful ingredient for the health of our body. Be careful not to abuse it: in fact, sumac, if consumed in high doses, can have repercussions on our body such as damage to the renal system and gastroenteritis. This is why many believe that sumac is poisonous.

Where to Buy Sumac?

Are you looking for an online shop where to buy sumac? You are in the right place! On Terza Luna, you can find sumac for sale online, directly from Turkey, to give your dishes an unmistakable spicy and citrusy taste, typical of the Middle East. Buy quickly and receive your spices directly at home.

Price

Terza Luna imports directly from Turkey high-quality Sumac and allows you to buy it online in 2 different packages:

• 50 gr of Turkish sumac – 3€
• 100 gr of Turkish sumac – 6€
• 250 gr of Turkish sumac – 13.40€

Buy Sumac Powder Online at Terza Luna

FAQ

Given the unusual spice, we have collected here some of the most frequently asked questions regarding sumac powder.

• What Does Sumac Replace?

Sumac can be used in cooking to replace lemon, thanks to its citrusy taste.

• What is Sumac Used For?

Sumac is excellent to use in cooking as a spice and also has important diuretic, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. It helps protect the cardiovascular system and is an excellent anti-inflammatory.

• Where to Buy Sumac?

You don't need a specialized shop, on Terza Luna you can find for sale a top-quality sumac imported directly from the Middle East.