The Science of Spice

130 Spice Profiles

Region of cultivation

The spice is native to Ethiopia and is cultivated

there, as well as in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania,

Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal.

The plant

Grains of Selim come

from an evergreen tree,

which grows in humid

tropical regions of Africa.

Trees can grow to a

height of 30m (98ft).

Whole

Pods can be used whole

and removed from the

dish before serving.

Powder

Grind or pound pods and use

immediately, since the flavour

compounds evaporate quickly.

For this reason pre-ground

powder is rarely available.

Seed pods

form in

dense clusters

Pods contain five to

eight seeds

BOTANICAL NAME

Xylopia aethiopica

ALSO KNOWN AS

Uda pod, Ethiopian pepper, habzeli, kimba

pepper, Selem kili, Guinea pepper.

MAJOR FLAVOUR COMPOUND

Fenchone.

PARTS USED

Pods (fruits) and seeds.

METHOD OF CULTIVATION

Trees are harvested for their pods, which are

picked at various stages of maturity.

COMMERCIAL PREPARATION

In Senegal, immature fruits are smoked

and then pounded; elsewhere, the sun-

dried pods are ground or used whole.

NON-CULINARY USES

In traditional African medicine: fruit and/or

roots are used to treat a variety of complaints.

Bark extract is used in skin ointments.

NIGERIA

TANZANIA

KENYA

ETHIOPIA

GHANA

UGANDA

SENEGAL

GRAINS OF SELIM

Musky | Resinous | Bitter

Grains of Selim are a popular spice

across Africa, from Ethiopia to

Ghana. Like grains of paradise,

during the Middle Ages the spice

was exported north to Europe and

sold as a substitute for scarce and

expensive black pepper. However,

its popularity in Europe waned

from the 16th century; by then,

Portuguese sailors and merchants

had established sea trade routes

from Asia to Europe, and this vastly

improved the availability of black

pepper and other exotic spices.

Outside its indigenous regions, the

spice is often called Ethiopian pepper,

but it is no relation to Piper nigrum.

It is valued as both a culinary spice

and a medicine in Africa, particularly

southern Nigeria, and deserves to be

better known outside the continent.

Spice story

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