Mbongo mwel
Aframomum citratum

Family: Zingiberaceae

What it is like

A ginger family herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has rhizomes or underground stems. It can be 4 m high. The flowering heads are short and almost round. They are 8 cm high.

There are about 50 Aframomum species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo R, Gabon, Guinea, Guinée, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, West Africa

How it is used for food

The seeds are dried and used as a flavouring, They are roasted then crushed and used in fish soup.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Seeds, vegetable, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Maniguette, Mbongo

Synonyms

Amomum citratum C. Pereira; Amomum macrolepis K. Schum.; Cardamomum citratum (C. Pereira) Kuntze;