Ashanti <tc>pepper</tc> (tail <tc>pepper</tc>)

The Ashanti pepper is also called the African cubeb. Like most other African pepper varieties, it was brought to the African continent and doesn't grow naturally there. The berry is less bitter than that of the Javanese cubeb, also called the true cubeb. In terms of spiciness, Ashanti is comparable to long pepper.

Stock item: currently unavailable, availability unknown

The Portuguese brought the cubeb pepper from Java to the Grey Coast of West Africa, from where they shipped it to Europe along with the native grains of paradise.

For a long time, both spices dominated European cuisine, but both were displaced by peppers from India, Java, and the West Indies, shipped to Europe by the Dutch and British Companies. Ashanti pepper is named after the ancient kingdom of Ashanti, which, after its abrupt annexation by the British, would henceforth be known as the "Gold Coast."

The Ashanti pepper grows wild, among other places, in the forests of Likouala, in northeastern Congo. Our pepper originates there. It has many names, such as gorilla pepper, Baka or Pygmy pepper—named after the Baka people who live and gather it here—uziza, or ndongo. The Ashanti pepper is a delicious-looking pepper, with a vibrant color ranging from gray-green to black and blush red. The stem is still attached.

Taste and smell

The aroma is pleasant, and the taste is less bitter than that of Javanese cubeb. It's an important pepper in West African cuisine and, like grains of paradise, is used in the Bombay sapphire gin recipe.

Usage

Ashanti pepper is a versatile pepper, used in stews, broths, meat dishes, vegetable dishes, and sauces, as well as in sweet preparations, such as traditional pepernoten (ginger nuts). Ashanti pepper is an ingredient in a classic ras el hanout and is (sometimes) used in berbere instead of Cape long pepper.

Compared to the Indonesian cubeb, this African cubeb is more powerful in taste, but milder in spiciness.

Like black pepper, cubeb is used whole, crushed, or ground, always including the tails.

Recipes):

Features:

• 100% pepper berries from the Piper guineense
• origin: Likouala, Congo (Rep)

Assortment

• available in glass, stand-up pouch and test tube (10 ml)
• larger quantities on request

Gift wrapping

• The jar is available in a tasteful gift packaging, consisting of a cube box filled with black tissue paper.
• For an overview of our gift packaging, please refer to the section gift wrapping

General advice

• grind your ashanti pepper shortly before use
  
• add the ground pepper to your preparation at the very last moment

Save:

• store your ashanti pepper in a closed container
• preferably store in a dark, dry and cool place
• best before - - -
• This expiration date is an indication

Batch number

The batch number helps us track which batch an item originates from. It's listed on the packing slip and invoice.