Here, where I live in Phetchabun Province, the Thai visitors choice of souvenir is often a bag of fruit! Not just any fruit mind, since Phetchabun Province is renowned throughout Thailand as the home and centre of tamarind production or sweet Tamarind production to be more precise.
The tamarind fruit/tree even features on the provincial flag.
The sweet tamarind I refer to are the fruit of the “Tamarindus indica” which is a large tree that probably originated in Africa but is now found throughout tropical and semi tropical regions.
The brown pods containing the fruit are not particularly attractive in my opinion and it can be hard work trying to remove the edible flesh from the pith and stones that accompany the fruit. Although many folk do eat the raw fruit(it can have a laxative effect) it is more popular as an ingredient in Thai cooking.
If you have eaten Thai food, dipped it in local sauces or eaten one version of the Thai signature dish, “Pad Thai,” then you have already experienced the taste of tamarind. Tamarind, along with other spices, is used to add that sweet/sour taste that is so popular in Thai cooking.