Sumac

'Lemon without the liquid'. Za'atar anchor.

Malic and tannic acids degrade with age and humidity exposure. Grocery sumac varies widely — older or improperly stored sumac loses its tart brightness and reads flat. Impact adjusted from 3 to 2. Check colour: vivid burgundy = fresh, brown-grey = past peak. Middle Eastern grocery stores typically have better-rotating stock than mainstream supermarkets.