I thought tamarinds were made to eat, but that was probably not the idea.

I ate several, and it seemed to me that they were rather sour that year.

They pursed up my lips, till they resembled the stem-end of a tomato, and I had to take my sustenance through a quill for twenty-four hours.
They sharpened my teeth till I could have shaved with them, and gave them a "wire edge" that I was afraid would stay; but a citizen said "no, it will come off when the enamel does"-- which was comforting, at any rate.
I found, afterward, that only strangers eat tamarinds--but they only eat them once..