We have a couple of large tamarind trees which produce a lot of bitter fruit but I've just seen a sweet tamarind sapling for sale in our local gardening centre in Udon province. The missus said it would be a waste of time planting it as fertilization from the bitter fruit trees would turn the sweet tamarind fruit bitter too.

Does anyone know if this is a likely scenario?

Thanking anyone for any replies in advance.

I don't know, we had a huge old tamarind tree out front and I was told that sweet ones wouldnt' grow on the island, dont' know if they would be sweet and just not produce sweet fruit or if they are two different kinds or what.

have a look at this: http://www.ecap-project.org/fileadmin/ecapII/pdf/en/activities/regional/gi_bangkok_2006/chinda_central_market_eng.pdf

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/tamarind.html