Sumac noun

The dried, ground berries of the sumac bush, used as a sour seasoning throughout the Levant.

Bright lemony sourness with a fruity, faintly astringent depth; sour without liquid.

Sprinkle over fattoush, grilled meats, hummus and eggs; mix into za'atar; rub onto chicken with olive oil before roasting. Add at the end; heat dulls it.

Used since Roman times as a souring agent before lemons reached the region. It remains the Levantine cook's way of adding acidity to a dry dish.