Ashanti pepper (tail pepper)

The Ashanti pepper is known as the African cubeb. It is just like most other African peppersspecies were brought to the African continent, and it does not grow there naturally. The berry is less bitter than that of the Javanese cubeb, also known as the true cubeb.

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

For a long time, both spices dominated European cuisine, but both have been displaced by the peppers from India, Java, and the West Indies, which were shipped to Europe by the Dutch and British Companies. The Ashanti pepper is named after the ancient kingdom of Ashanti, which, after being abruptly annexed by the British, would henceforth be called the 'Gold Coast'.

The Ashanti pepper grows in the wild in the forests of Likouala, in the northeast of the Congo, among other places. Our pepper comes from there. It has many names, such as gorilla pepper, Baka or Pygmy pepper—after the Baka people who live here and collect the pepper—uziza or ndongo. The Ashanti pepper is an appetizing-looking little pepper, multicolored, ranging from gray-green to black and blushing red. The stem is still attached.

Taste and smell

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

Usage

Ashanti pepper is a versatile pepper, used in stews, broths, meat, vegetable dishes, and sauces, but also in sweet preparations, such as in old-fashioned pepernoten. 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 has a stronger flavor but is milder in sharpness, and often more mottled in color. The 'tail' is often – unlike that of the common cubeb (Piper cubebe) – slightly curved.

Cubeb, just like black pepper, is used whole, crushed, or ground, always including the tails.

Recipes):

Features:

• 100% peppercorns from Piper guineense
• origin: Likouala, Congo (Rep)

Assortment

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

Gift packaging

• The jar is available in 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 packaging

Assortment

• available in glass (45 grams) and stand-up pouch (various weight classes)
• glarger quantities than shown on request

Save

• batch number DM590407
• best before October 2028 (10-2028)