Award-Winning BBQ Sauce Celebrates Caribbean Heritage with Ancient Tamarind RecipeAAPI Entrepreneurs Honor Caribbean Culinary Traditions During National Caribbean American Heritage Month with Revolutionary Sauce That Beats Industry Giants
Tamarind HeadsJun 06, 2025
Gainesville, FL (June 6, 2025) – As National Caribbean American Heritage Month celebrates the rich culinary legacy of the diaspora, Tamarind Heads BBQ Sauce is showcasing how ancient Caribbean ingredients are revolutionizing modern American cooking. The company's tamarind-based sauce recently earned the prestigious 2024 sofi™ Gold Award for Best BBQ Sauce, beating established industry leaders in a blind taste test.
Founded by Indian-American Sashi Kumar and Chinese-Malaysian-American Brittney Lim, Tamarind Heads honors the deep Caribbean roots of tamarind—a superfood that arrived in the islands through African and Indian culinary influences and became essential to beloved dishes like chutneys, sauces, and tamarind balls.
"Tamarind has been a global culinary staple for centuries, enriching dishes from India and Thailand to the Caribbean and Mexico. By using tamarind as our base instead of traditional tomato-vinegar foundations, we're delivering a healthier, more flavorful experience," says Kumar.
The breakthrough sauce abandons traditional BBQ foundations entirely, using pure tamarind instead of tomatoes and vinegar. This innovation creates a clean-label product that's vegan, gluten-free, and packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
"Food was the language of love, memory, and connection. Malaysian cuisine is a vibrant mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Thai influences all on one plate—and those early experiences gave me a lifelong appreciation for bold, layered flavors," explains Lim, whose childhood summers in Malaysia inspired the recipe.
Caribbean Heritage Recognition
During Caribbean American Heritage Month, tamarind's significance extends beyond flavor. Through centuries of cultural exchange, African and Indian communities brought tamarind to the Caribbean, where it became deeply embedded in island cuisine. Today, McCormick & Co. has crowned tamarind the 2024 Flavor of the Year, highlighting its rising prominence in American cooking.
About Tamarind Heads BBQ Sauce
Tamarind Heads BBQ Sauce is a certified minority and women-owned business that creates revolutionary BBQ sauces using tamarind as the base ingredient. Founded in 2024, the company won the sofi™ Gold Award for Best BBQ Sauce and was named a Shelfie Awards finalist for best emerging CPG brands.
Product Samples Available: High-resolution images, product samples for review, and founder interviews available upon request.
Call to Action: Experience the award-winning difference at tamarindheads.com or find Tamarind Heads BBQ Sauce at Central Market and Pearl River Mart locations.
Heat oil to 350°F in cast iron skillet. Fry chicken 10-15 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F
Serve with additional Tamarind Heads BBQ Sauce for dipping
Editor's Note: Tamarind Heads BBQ Sauce contains six simple ingredients: tamarind, sesame, chili powder, brown sugar, salt, and spices. The sauce is vegan, gluten-free, preservative-free, and corn syrup-free with a two-year shelf life.
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About Tamarind Heads
Tamarind Heads offers a groundbreaking tamarind superfood base with clean, honest ingredients and bold, award-winning global flavor. The BBQ sauce is known for its perfect tangy spice complemented by a hint of sweetness and versatility across various cuisines including Asian, African, and South American. Their products have been highly rated and praised for their unique, delectable flavor and versatility in cooking. Tamarind Heads BBQ sauce also won the SOFI Gold Award for the best BBQ sauce in 2024.
Flavor Profile: Tart and tangy, with a bit of smoke, a hint of sweetness, and a punch of heat
Clean Label Forward: Just tamarind and 5 simple ingredients, no fillers, no concentrates, no corn syrup or additives; Vegan, Gluten-Free, No Preservatives, No Corn Syrup, No Emulsifiers - but still a 2-year shelf life
Superfood Base: Most BBQ sauces start with a tomato-vinegar base, this uses an innovative tamarind base which is a superfood known for its antioxidant properties. It’s a better-for-you BBQ that’s also award-winning for its flavor.
Versatile: We’ve seen fans use it on traditional BBQ, but also as a sandwich spread, dipping sauce for chicken nuggets, in stir-frys, great on roasted vegetables, and in chili, we’ve even had folks use it in a michelada and warm-spiced bourbon cocktails!
Jun 06, 2025
