Sumac is the seed of a shrub of the same name. Brown in color and with a sour taste, it is a basic ingredient in Oriental cuisine, where it takes the place of tamarind, lemon, and vinegar when acidifying sauces and mixtures. Its intoxicating aromas give it a symbolic power: during the Iranian New Year, it is one of the seven "S" (symbolic element) that are brought as an offering to the family table as a synonym for "good life."