Remove the tamarind fruit from its shell and devein it. Then break the tamarind into bite-sized pieces, with one seed in each piece, and gently mold into a ball. If you prefer, you can also keep the tamarind fruit intact.
Combine the sugar, salt, and ground chili in a small bowl. Place the tamarind balls into this mixture and roll around until all of the balls are evenly coated.
You can eat the tamarind candy right away, but they're even better if they have a day or two to sit and allow the flavors to meld together.