Tomato and Red Lentil Soup
- Exploration Spices
-
Sumac
Details
Sumac once served as the tart, acidic element in cooking prior to the introduction of lemons by the Romans. This tart, lemony red spice is harvested from shrubs in the Middle East and traditionally sun-dried. This version from Turkey is cured with salt to develop notes of sour cherry and cranberry. It is excellent on kebabs. Interestingly, its use gave rise to the tradition of pink lemonade in America. Sumac is a household staple in middleeastern countries, much like salt and pepper in the United States. The plant is actually a member of the cashew family, just like pink peppercorns are. This particular sumac is cured and comes from Turkey specifically. Instead of being dried, this sumac is chopped and packed in salt. This dark red powdered berry had a nutty texture with a tart, sour lemon with a slightly fermented taste. Sumac can be used as you would lemon and salt, in dishes from Chicken, fish, vegetables or hummus. Ingredients: Sumac, salt.
Spice Highlights
Choose Your Set & Save 5%
We curated spice bundles to help you get inspiration on your cooking journey.
Recipes
Featured In
View AllSpices
Frequently Bought Together
Browse For Similar Spices
Fresh
I'd tried za'atar before, but this was my first time trying sumac by itself. I used it in a chickpea salad and I love the bright, lemony pop it adds. Can't wait to try it in other dishes!
I am new to the spice. It definitely lives up to the hype! Very unique and interesting.
Great value and great spice
We started using The Spice House a couple of years ago, and everything we’ve bought has been top quality. We love to cook all kinds of food and use a lot of the more common spices and herbs (basil, bay leaves, smoked paprika, etc.), plus less common ones (sumac, fenugreek, smoked Hawaiian salt, lavender, etc.). The spice blends are also amazing. Our favorites so far are English Prime Rib Rub, Maple Mesquite Seasoning, and the Fried Chicken Seasoning. Truly, you can’t go wrong with anything ordered from here!