Grains of Paradise, Melegueta pepper
Aframomum melegueta

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has underground stems or rhizomes. These are 2-3 mm thick and short. The leaves are broadly sword shaped. They are 35 cm long and 15 cm wide. The leaves reach 0.8-2 m high. The flowers are on 5 cm stems that emerge just above ground level. They are purple and trumpet shaped. The fruit are pear shaped and 10 cm long. They are red to orange and contain many seeds. The seeds are light grey and dull. They are almost round with irregular flat spots.

There are about 50 Aframomum species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It can grow in arid places. It grows in forest and savannah. It is often in swampy locations. It grows in shade.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, Congo R, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guyana, Haiti, India, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, North Africa, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The seeds have a flavour like mild cardamom. They are hot and peppery. They are used to flavour wines, beer, cordials, liqueurs, meats and breads. They are used in soups and stews. The fruit pulp around the seeds are eaten or chewed as a stimulant. The leaves are used for tea.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Seeds, spice, fruit, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants are grown by division. It can be grown from seeds.

Plants begin fruiting after 3 years and produce for another 4 years. The seeds are removed from their pod for drying.

Its other names

Local names

Alegata pepper, Alligator pepper, Guinea pepper, Guinea grains, Ketchou, Maniguette, Ndon, Ndondo, Ndungu zi nzo, Ntondo, Ntuenubokk, Ose oji, Poivre de Guinee, Taku

Synonyms

Aframomum grana-paradisi (L.) K. Schum.; Aframomum meleguetella K. Schum.; Alexis grandiflora (Sm.) Salisb.; Alpinia grana-paradisi (L.) Moon; Amomum elatum Salisb. [Illegitimate]; Amomum grana-paradisi L.; Amomum grandiflorum Sm.; Amomum melegueta Roscoe [Illegitimate]; Amomum melegueta var. violacea Ridl.; Cardamomum grana-paradisi (L.) Kuntze; Cardamomum grandiflorum (Sm.) Kuntze; Torymenes officinalis Salisb. [Illegitimate];