Malabar Tamarind Garcinia Cambogia: The Ultimate Guide to Som Khaek (ส้มแขก)
A malabar tamarind (Garcinia cambogia) a tree I grew from seed produced fruit for the first time this year.
Garcinia cambogia – also known as som khaek (ส้มแขก) in Thai – is a small, pumpkin‑shaped fruit native to Southeast Asia. A southern Thai kitchen staple, its zesty tang makes it a popular substitute for tamarind.
Outside the kitchen, its rind holds hydroxycitric acid (HCA). This substance may help with weight loss and digestion.
By the end of this guide, you’ll learn how to dry som khaek, cook with it, use it as a tamarind substitute, and explore its health benefits and traditional uses.
The Garcinia cambogia tree is an attractive medium-sized evergreen. They typically grow 5–20 m tall, with a rounded crown and gracefully drooping branches. The trunk is covered in smooth, dark brown to reddish-brown bark marked by small lenticels, and when cut reveals a reddish blaze and yellow latex ooze. The tree’s glossy, oval leaves host clusters of lantern-like, deep-ribbed fruits reminiscent of miniature pumpkins.
