The Science of Spice

Africa 35

With the exception of chillies introduced in the

15th century by Portuguese explorers, the cuisine

of Central Africa has remained true to its indigenous

spice cupboard. Seeds and bark of the bobimbi tree

are the region’s equivalent to garlic, used in almost

every local dish, and three native pungent spices

provide lingering heat and hints of citrus: Ashanti

pepper (Piper guineense), grains of Selim, and mbongo

(Aframomum citratum).

LOCAL SPICE BLEND

Mbongo mix

Use to flavour Cameroonian “black stew”

mbongo tchobi, most often made with white fish.

SPICE

PALETTE

Zanzibar was once

the world’s largest

producer of cloves,

a trade established

by Omani settlers

to the island.

4 tsp ground mbongo or black cardamom

1 tsp bobimbi or 1 handful wild garlic or garlic chives

30 njangsa seeds or 1 handful unsalted peanuts

2 calabash nutmeg seeds or 1 tsp grated nutmeg

1 tsp grains of paradise

4 garlic cloves

1 onion, roughly chopped

Grind the whole spices, combine with the garlic and onion

in a blender, add 4 tbsp water, and process until smooth.

CENTRAL AFRICA

Nutty | Pungent | Local

“

Confusingly, ‘grains of

paradise’ is a name applied

locally to four different spices:

Ashanti, mbongo, grains of

Selim, and grains of paradise!

”

Signature

Bobimbi, njangsa, mbongo

Njangsa are the oil-rich

seeds of the Ricinodendron

tree, bringing a nutty flavour

and thickening property

to dishes, with a particular

affinity for fish.

Supporting

Calabash nutmeg (Monodora

myristica), chilli (Scotch bonnet),

ginger, grains of paradise

Milder than ordinary

nutmeg, indigenous

calabash nutmeg found

its way to the Caribbean –

where it is called Jamaican

nutmeg – via the European

slave trade. Ginger, chilli,

and grains of paradise are

regular additions to soups.

Supplementary

Garlic, bay, black pepper,

curry powder

The region is gradually

embracing non-native

spices, with garlic, pepper,

and bay leaf used to

season local versions of

the jollof rice dish, and

curry powder employed

as a flavour shortcut in

Cameroonian curries.

Sc

ot

ch

(^) bo
nnet chilli
gin
ger
034-035_East_Africa_Central_Africa.indd 35 04/06/2018 15:46