Paradise grain

Grain of paradise is a sharp peppersoort, beloved in West African and Surinamese cuisine. The small seeds are found in a seed pod, embedded in a jelly-like fluid that hardens after drying.

We supply grains of paradise as seed pods – for you to hull yourself – and in hulled form, the so-called grains (seeds).

This (pseudo)pepper from Cameroon (sometimes we source our grains of paradise from Ghana) is a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), and is also known by names such as Guinea pepper and malaguetta-pepperIt has been an important herb in West African and Surinamese cuisine for centuries.

Like all gingers, the plant grows in a warm, humid environment and prefers some shade. The rhizome grows just below the surface of the ground. The plant reaches a height of about 2 meters and has elongated, pointed leaves, like bamboo. Trumpet-like flowers form close to the ground; they appear to emerge directly from the soil but are supported by stalks. They are 15 cm long and light purple, and soon fall off to make way for large reddish-brown 'pods' (10 cm). These contain reddish-brown seeds in a jelly-like fluid, the grains of paradise.

It takes three years for sown plants to yield a usable harvest. From then on, harvesting can take place for four consecutive years. The pods are picked when ripe. A modest portion is sold fresh in West Africa, while the lion's share is laid out in the sun to dry.

Unique. It is not always possible to obtain this, but the grain of paradise we are currently supplying is not cultivated but sourced from wild harvesting!

Grains of paradise taste stronger and are sharper than regular grains. pepper by the ketone paradol, an antioxidant found exclusively in this peppers occurs, and in ginger..

Grains of paradise are closely related to other African grains. pepperplants, Aframomum danielli, whose seeds are called mbongo or alligator pepper, and the very rare Aframomum angustifolium, the Madagascar cardamom. Grains of paradise are rarely sold unhulled; as a rule, only the loose seeds are available, including from us.

Scent and taste

Grains of paradise are a spice scented of forest and wet wood. It tastes sharp at first, followed by pleasant citrus notes and Notes of cinnamon, clove, and cardamom (a distant relative) come to the fore. The aftertaste is pleasant. Some of the essential oils determining the taste and aroma in grains of paradise are:

• [6]-paradol, the dominant pungent substance, is also found in ginger,
  
• [6]-gingerol, better known as the sharpness of ginger, converted upon drying into [6]-shoagol, twice as sharp as gingerol
  
• β-caryophyllene, sweet, spicy and woody
• linalyl acetate, responsible for a pleasant citrus, bergamot, and lavender scent,
• sabinene, responsible for the woody, camphor-like flavor of black pepper and nutmeg
• β-myrcene, spicy aroma, with notes of fruit (mango, grape, peach) and mint,
• α-caryophyllene (humulene), hops, as in beer and cannabis
• d-limonene, responsible for the citrus aromas,

To reach the grains, must the skirt of the seed capsule be removed and the kernel of the fruit be flattened. This must be done carefully, as it is important to keep the seeds as intact as possible so that they can be separated from the rest of the contents of the capsule.

The grains are just like pepperground grainsA good ras el hanout contains grains of paradise, which is called 'gouza sahraouia' in Morocco. In many versions of ras el hanout, it is nowadays made by Asian cubeb pepper replace, or black pepperGrains of paradise are making a comeback, not only in African cuisines, but also in beers, spirits, and European cuisine.

Grains of paradise are delicious with lamb dishes, courgette, potatoes, and aubergine.

Features:

• 100% fruit of the Aframomum meleguetta (unpeeled)
• origin: Cameroon

Assortment

• available in glass (60 or 75 grams), 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 gift packaging section.

General advice

• times the pepper at the last moment to make the most of the scent
• save the pepper in a dark, dry and cool place
  

Save:

• Store your grains of paradise in a closed package.
• preferably store in a dark, dry and cool place
• best before November 2027 (11-2027)
• This expiration date is an indication.

Would you like to know what grains of paradise taste like?