Guinea Pepper, Large red-fingers
Xylopia aethiopica

Family: Annonaceae

What it is like

A tall evergreen tree. It grows to 30 m tall. It has many branches and is aromatic. The bark is grey-brown. It peels easily. The leaves are oblong and 8-16.5 cm long by 2.8-6.5 cm wide. They are leathery and bluish-green. They have fine hairs underneath. The base tapers and runs into the leaf stalk. The flowers are single and in twisted branched spikes. These are 5.5 cm long by 0,4 cm wide. They are creamy-green in colour. The fruit has 7-24 carpels each one like a pod. They are 6 cm long and form dense clusters. They are green to red in colour and red inside. They are succulent and split when ripe. The seeds are black and 10 mm long. They have a yellow papery seed layer.

There are 170 Xylopia species. They are a widespread tropical genus.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in evergreen forest at low altitude. It grows in both lowland rainforest and on the edges of forests in the savannah zones. It can grow on the edges of mangroves and in palm groves. It can grow in seasonally flooded forests. It suits humid locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit and seeds are used for an aromatic peppery spice. It is used to flavour coffee, wine and other food dishes. They are cooked in soup for flavouring and as a spice.

It is exported to Europe. It is commonly used in West Africa. It is sold in local markets. Plants are occasionally cultivated.

Edible parts

Seeds, spice, fruit

How it is grown

Plants flower in January, April and September and fruit in April, June and July.

Its other names

Local names

African pepper, Akwi, Atta, Bekala, Bokaha, Bribleque, Bu lew ba finoe, Calantu, Calatu, Canafio, Djo-gofe, Djodjo, Dodo, Eda, Equeche, Erauci, Erinje, Essi, Esso, Ethiopian pepper, Ferebah, Foutsan, Guile-balei, Guile-bete, Guile, Hewei, Hwentea, Idoie-iginal, Ika, Iobogofo, Iru, Janafim-O, Kandi, Kani, Kieng, Kimba, Kyimba, Luvinda, Malagueta-da-guine, Malagueta-preta, Ma-pos, Ma-tel, Mchofu, Mgana, Msaou, Muengeve, Mugana, Mughana, Mvamba kuakua, Mwawia, Mweya, N'cana, N'gani, Nka, Nkana, Nkuankua, Nkuwa nkuwa, N'sanu, Nsagalane, Nsombo, Nuebiho, Ocanhebo, Ogaa, Ogala, Ogana, Okala, Oukalla, Oyang, Pedjericou, Pimienta de Guinea, Poivre noir, Sange, Sela, Sem-unte-pulhe, Senegal pepper, Sengi, Sente, Seve, Siawo, Siminji, Siminyi, Sin-de, Spice tree, Uda, Ugha, Uka, Unien, Whentia

Synonyms

Annona aethiopica (Dunal) Steud.; Habzelia aethiopica (Dunal) A. DC.; Habzelia aethiopica De Candolle; Unona aethiopica Dunal; Uvaria aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich.; Xylopia dekeyzeriana De Wild.; Xylopia eminii Engl.; Xylopia gilletii De Wild.; Xylopicrum aethiopicum (Dunal) Kuntze;