Guinea grains, Black amomum
Aframomum cereum

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It has rhizomes or underground stems. It keeps growing from year to year and grows 2 m high and spreads 1 m wide. The stems are erect. They are leafy. The leaves are oblong and taper to the tip. They are bright green. They have parallel veins. The leaves are 25 cm long and sheath the stem. The flowers are mauve. They are in spikes at the ends of the plant. The fruit are acid. They are in long spikes. The seeds are brown.

There are about 50 Aframomum species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It needs humus-rich moist soil. It is best in a protected shaded position. It is sensitive to drought and frost.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa (country/location of origin), Angola, Australia, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, Congo R, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa

How it is used for food

The dark red fruit are succulent and edible. The leaves are used as a spice and flavouring.

Edible parts

Seeds, spice, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown by division.

Its other names

Local names

Nanga

Synonyms

Aframomum masuianum (De Wild. & T. Durand) K. Schum.; Aframomum sceptrum (Oliv. & D. Hanb.) K. Schum.; Amomum cereum Hook. f.; Amomum masuianum De Wild. & T. Durand; Amomum sceptrum Oliv. & D. Hanb.; Cardamomum cereum (Hook. f.) Kuntze; Cardamomum sceptrum (Oliv. & Hanb.) Kuntze; Zerumbet autranii Heckel;