If you’ve ever visited a village in India, you might have noticed the trees that line the edges of the fields. When I was 2 years old, playing under these trees was one of my favorite ways to pass the time whenever I accompanied my father on his farm visits. I would spend hours there before heading back home, picking seeds off the ground or climbing the trees to pluck something edible.
On one such visit, I found myself under a tamarind tree, which was in season. The tree was laden with fruits, as most animals tend to avoid the extremely sour tamarind. I eagerly picked some to eat, only to give up after a few bites—it was too sour to handle. But that didn’t stop me from stuffing my tiny pockets with tamarinds to enjoy later at home.
Then, my father suggested I try eating the leaves. I did, and to my surprise, I loved them. The leaves had just the right amount of sourness, and suddenly, the tamarind tree became a magical source of endless treats. From that day on, I saw the tree with new eyes, as if it was my very own secret sour candy factory.
I returned to that tree many times before I left the village, munching on its leaves and savoring the simple, tangy joy they brought me.