First and foremost, be very careful when buying the spice Sumac. Always buy the spice Sumac from a reputable source. You do not want to have it confused with an the ornamental Sumac shrub grown in America that has inedible poisonous white berries (aka Poison Oak).
The spice Sumac is grown in the Middle East and in parts of Italy. It has dark red berries that are sold as whole berries or as dried coarsley ground. It has a tart, fruity taste and the the smell is only slightly aromatic. This spice has been used for over 2,000 years ( mainly in Arabic cuisine as well in Turkey, Greece and Lebanon). North American Indians were known to use the spice Sumac to make a beer-like beverage. Typically the spice Sumac is used as a souring agent. It is often used as a substitute for lemons. It pairs well with grilled meats & fish, rice, beans, vegetables, marinades and salad dressings. It is especially well known for being excellent with tomatoes. Hummus is often served with a dusting of Sumac…. Hmmm. I thought it was Paprika…
Finally Finding Sumac…
The next day, I hit the cookbooks and brainstormed ways to thread this new spice into my family meals over the next few weeks. I’ve incorporated the spice Sumac in breakfast, lunch, dinner, appetizer and even dessert dishes. I tried it on eggs, added it to both Pizza Sauce and Marinara Sauce, used it in hummus (adding a dusting on the top too), and on vegetables. It is very flexible and I think the best way to describe the spice Sumac is that is in my opinion it is a “flavor enhancer”. It takes food to the next level without you realizing it. It is a background flavor that leaves you wondering hmmmm this is good and I’m not sure why… At this point, I cannot imagine my spice cabinet without the spice Sumac.
2 tablespoons dried thyme
1 tablespoon sumac
2 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted
1/2 teaspoon table salt
Mix all ingredients in a small container with a lid. Give it a good shake.
Traditional Recipe #2 – Warm Chickpea and Swiss Chard Salad with Sumac
9 oz. dried chickpeas
1/2 cup olive oil
1 onion, cut into thin wedges
2 tomatoes
1 teaspoon sugar
2 garlic cloves, chopped
3 lbs swiss chard
3 tablespoons fresh mint
2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1-1/2 tablespoons ground sumac
- Place the chickpeas in a large bowl, cover with water and leave to soak overnight. Drain and place in a large saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil, then simmer for 1 3/4 hours, or until tender. Drain.
- Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and cook over low heat for 3-4 minutes, or until soft and just starting to turn brown. Cut the tomatoes in half, remove the seeds and dice the flesh. Add to the pan with the sugar, cinnamon and garlic, and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until softened.
- Wash the swiss chard and dry with paper towel. Add to the tomato mix with the chickpeas; cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the swiss chard wilts. Add the mint, lemon juice and sumac; season and cook for 1 minute. Serve at once.
Blogger’s Comment: I chose to use only 1/4 cup of olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper…
Taster Comments: One taster commented “This stuff is great!”. Another taster commented “Love It!” and ate two servings.
Source: Taste of the Mediterranean Step-By-Step by Bay Books 
Gypsy World Spice Cafe Recipe – Sumac Scented Cherry Almond Chocolate Bark
12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped
1/4 cup sliced almonds, chopped finely
1-1/2 teaspoons sumac, divided
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Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside.
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Place the chocolate chips into a medium sized bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time until the chips have softened up. Stir until smooth.Stir in cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of sumac.
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Pour the melted chocolate mixture onto the wax paper. Using a spatula, evenly spread the chocolateSprinkle the cherries and almonds on top. Using an off-set spatula, gently press into the chocolate.
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Dust the chocolate with the remaing 1/2 teaspoon of sumac.
- Chill until set. Break into smaller pieces and store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
Variation: If you like a creamier texture, add 1-2 oz of half/half to the chocolate chips (before melting). Then add 1/4 teaspoon almond extract too if you like. It will take longer to set…
Taster Comments: One taster asked if I had added Cherry Juice as they had picked up on the fruity flavor of the Sumac. My younger tasters, got caught eating too much of the chocolate… they had it on their faces when I caught them …
Upcoming Articles
Working on developing my own spice blends. The next few articles will continue with the Sumac theme and be about the Sumac Spice blends. You will also see mini-articles to give some other tips and facts about the Spice Scene…
Gypsy World Spice Cafe 
I love your new blog, it is fantastic, and OMG! – Sumac sounds very interesting, can’t wait to try the chocolate bark, it looks amazing…look forward to more recipes and the spice blends…