Sumac can be to make tangy cool drink known as sumac-aide or Indian lemonade. Sumac-aide is made by soaking sumac drupes in cool water, recovering extract and adding sweetener. 

The tea can also be made into a very nice syrup.

Native Americans mixed Sumac leaves and drupes along with tobacco in their smoking mixtures.

Sumac fruits contain mainly water soluble extract containing Vitamin C and other vitamins, protein, fiber and Minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus. Nearly 4% of sumac by weight includes tannins. Its tangy flavor is result of high acid content and because of malic acid citric acid, fumaric acid and ascorbic acid present in berries.

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