Paradise grain

Paradise grain is a sharp pepperA species beloved in West African and Surinamese cuisine. The tiny seeds are contained in a seed pod, embedded in a jelly-like fluid that hardens after drying.

We supply Paradise grains as seed pods - for self-hulling - and in hulled form, the so-called grains (seeds).

This (pseudo)pepper from Cameroon (sometimes we source our paradise grain 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 ginger species, the plant grows in a warm, moist environment and prefers some shade. The rhizome grows close to the ground. The plant grows to about 2 meters tall and has elongated and pointed leaves, like bamboo. Trumpet-like flowers form close to the ground, appearing to emerge directly from the ground, but are actually on stalks. They are 15 cm long and light purple, and quickly fall off to make way for large, reddish-brown pods (10 cm). These contain reddish-brown seeds in a jelly-like liquid, the grain of paradise.

It takes three years for sown plants to produce a usable harvest. From then on, harvests can be made for four consecutive years. The pods are picked when ripe. A small portion is sold fresh in West Africa, while the lion's share is dried in the sun.

Unique. It's not always easy to obtain, but the paradise grain we currently supply is not cultivated but comes from wild harvesting!

Paradise grain has a stronger and sharper taste than regular grain pepper by the ketone paradol, an antioxidant found only in this peppers occurs, and in ginger..

The paradise grain is closely related to other African pepperplants, the 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 unhusked; usually, only the loose seeds are available, even in our country.

Smell and taste

Paradise grain is a spice with a forest and wet woody aroma. It initially tastes sharp, but then pleasant citrus notes emerge. Notes of cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom (a distant relative) emerge. The aftertaste is pleasant. Some of the flavor and aroma-defining essential oils in grains of paradise are:

• [6]-paradol, the dominant pungent, is also found in ginger,
  
• [6]-gingerol, better known as the pungency of ginger, converted upon drying into [6]-shoagol, twice as pungent 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 flavour of blackcurrant, among other things pepper and nutmeg
• β-myrcene, spicy aroma, with notes of fruits (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, the shell of the seed pod is removed and the core of the fruit is 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 peppergrains ground.A good ras el hanout contains grains of paradise, which in Morocco is called 'gouza sahraouia'. In many versions of ras el hanout today, it is replaced by Asian cubeb. pepper replace, or black pepperParadise grain is making a comeback, not only in African cuisines, but also in beers, spirits, and European cuisine.

Paradise grains are delicious with lamb dishes, zucchini, potatoes and eggplant.

Features:

• 100% fruits 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 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 gift packaging section.

General advice

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

Save:

• store your paradise grain in closed packaging
• 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 paradise grain tastes like?