What does sumac taste like?
Sumac tastes tart and lemony with a soft red fruit edge, like a squeeze of lemon in dry, dusty form, without much heat or bitterness.
Sumac
lemony tang, dry and fruity
Sumac is a ground dried berry, deep red and a little coarse, used all over the Middle East where you might reach for lemon. It brings sourness without making anything wet, so it's great on things you want to stay crisp. The tang is rounder than lemon, with a faint fruity, almost cranberry side and a pinch of salt in most jars. It isn't hot at all. On its own it's mild; scattered over onions or grilled meat, it wakes the whole plate up.
Where you’ll see it
Dusted over hummus, kebabs, grilled chicken and fattoush (a bread salad), tossed with sliced onions as a side, and mixed into za'atar. Some cocktail bars use it on rims.
Order it if you like a lemony kick on rich, grilled food.
Quick questions
- Is sumac poisonous?
- Not the sumac you eat. The spice comes from a different plant than poison sumac, which has white berries and is not used in food.
- Is sumac spicy?
- No. Sumac has no chili heat at all. It is sour and gently fruity, so think of it as lemon in powder form, not chili.