Sumac Q & A Sumac is actually a reddish-purple berry found on wild bushes throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East. What does sumac taste like? Sumac is tart and fruity, and also acts as a flavor enhancer, similar to salt.

The spice aisle is the place you’re probably going to find ground sumac or whole sumac berries in. Look in the spice rack with the other seasonings or on a nearby shelf. The other place to check is the international aisle. If it’s there, it will likely be in the Middle Eastern foods section.

It has a pleasant tangy taste with a hint of citrus fruitiness and virtually no aroma. An essential ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine, sumac is used in spice rubs, marinades and dressings, and is also served as a condiment.

It is a standard ingredient in za’atar, a popular Mediterranean spice blend used to top everything from pita to lamb chops. It is commonly dusted over a variety of dishes—such as meats, salads, breads, and desserts—as a colorful garnish, and to lend a touch of citrusy acidity.

Powerful Antioxidant Sumac has powerful antioxidants that fight against bad cells that damage healthy cells. According to a scientific study, antioxidants fight against bad cells responsible for heart diseases, premature aging, stomach disorders, and many other adverse events.

Sumac is a tangy, lemony spice often used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking. Try using it in salads instead of lemon juice or to season grilled meat and fish. It’s also delicious sprinkled over hummus.

Poison sumac has clusters of white or light-green berries that sag downward on its branches, while the red berries of harmless sumac sit upright. Also, each stem on the poison sumac plant has a cluster of leaflets with smooth edges, while harmless sumac leaves have jagged edges.

Eradicating sumac through mechanical means requires chopping or mulching trees down as close to ground level as possible, removing saplings by hand, and mowing any root sprouts that break the surface. Mulching, using a disc or drum mulcher, is a quick and effective method for taking on sumac.

What Is Sumac? Sumac is one of the most popular spices in many parts of the world. Derived from the sumac plant (not be confused with poison sumac, poison ivy, or poison oak), this spice brings a tangy lemony flavor to dishes that also adds a pop of red color to anything it’s cooked with.

The Smooth Sumac and Shining Sumac are smooth both on the twigs and the fruits. The leaves of the three species differ slightly as well. Staghorn Sumac has leaves that have a hairy leaf stem and rachis, the stem that the leaflets are attached to. Smooth Sumac has none of the hair on the leaves.