Unique Properties and Culinary Uses What is Sumac Spice? Sumac spice comes from the little reddish berries of the sumac bush that grow in dense clusters at the branch tips called bobs. The red berry fruit is fuzzy and sticky when ripe with a thin flesh surrounding one seed. After the whole berries are dried, they often turn a duller burgundy purple color and are ground to make the powdered spice called sumac. Sumac is known for its unusual tangy citrus-like flavor which comes primarily from its MALIC ACID content.