180 Spice Profiles
Grains of paradise originated in
West Africa. The spice was first
brought to Europe by Arab, Berber,
or Jewish merchants, via trade
caravan routes across the Sahara
Desert. In Europe, it reached its
peak of fashionability during the
14th and 15th centuries, when
merchants gave it the heavenly
epithet as a marketing ploy to
increase sales. It was used as a
less expensive substitute for black
pepper, to spice wine, beer, and as
a seasoning for food. Production of
the spice was so important that the
area of West Africa where it was
grown became known as the Grain
(or Pepper) Coast. The spice’s
popularity in Western cuisine had
dwindled by the 19th century, but
in its native West Africa it remains
an important spice in ritual and food;
in the Nigerian Yoruba culture it is
used as an offering to the spirits.Region of cultivation
Grains of paradise are native to the coastal
regions of West Africa, where they grow in
forest margins. Ghana is the main producer
of the spice.The plant
This herbaceous, perennial,
reed-like plant is a member
of the ginger family. It grows
to a height of 1.5m (5ft).Whole
Seeds are a reddish-
brown colour and
pyramid-shaped.The tiny seeds
are milky-
white insideFruits are
fig-shaped
and contain
60–100 seedsSeeds inside
the fruits
are similar
in size to
cardamom
seeds Powder
Ground seeds
are greyish
in colour.BOTANICAL NAME
Aframomum meleguetaALSO KNOWN AS
Guinea pepper, Melegueta pepper, ossame.MAJOR FLAVOUR COMPOUND
Paradol.PARTS USED
Seeds.METHOD OF CULTIVATION
Seed pods (fruits) are harvested when
the fruit has turned from green to red.COMMERCIAL PREPARATION
Seed pods are typically dried in the sun.
Pods are then opened and the seeds are
removed for further drying.NON-CULINARY USES
To relieve flatulence, freshen breath, and
as a stimulant. Gerard’s Herbal states that
the seeds “rid the body of infection”.GHANA
GUINEA
SIERRA
LEONE
IVORY
COAST
GRAINS OF PARADISE
Peppery | Pungent | Fruity-floral
Spice story
180-181_Grains_of_Paradise.indd 180 13/07/2018 11:44