Pepper fruit
Dennettia tripetala

Family: Annonaceae

What it is like

A shrub or medium sized tree. It grows to 15 m high. Fruit are green but turn red when ripe.

There is only one Dennetia species. It is used in medicine and has been shown to help diabetes.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in rainforests and sometimes in savannah forests. It suits humid locations. It can be in mangroves.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa

How it is used for food

The young leaves and fruit have a distinctive spicy taste. They are used in sauces and to flavour food. The fruit are eaten raw.

It is a culturally important spice. Fruit are sold in local markets. It is a cultivated plant.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, seeds, spice

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Ako, Igberi, Mmimi, Nmimi, Nkarika, Opipi

Synonyms

Uvariopsis tripetala (Baker f.) G. E. Schatz;