Sumac

Sumac is a deep burgundy spice ground from the dried berries of a Mediterranean shrub. It delivers a clean, lemony tang with mild fruitiness and a faint tannic snap, and is commonly sprinkled to finish kebabs, salads, roasted vegetables, and dips or stirred into dressings and marinades. It is typically sold as coarse flakes or a fine powder.

The spice has roots across the Eastern Mediterranean and West Asia and features prominently in Levantine, Turkish, and Iranian cuisines. Berries are traditionally sun-dried before milling; modern processors clean and de-stem the clusters then grind to the desired texture.