Alligator Pepper, Ginny Grains, Ginny Papper, Graines, Grani de Meleguetta, Grani de paradiso, Greater Cardamom, Grenes, Guinea Grains, Guinea Pepper, Guinea Seeds, Malagettapfeffer, Malagueta, Malaguette, Maniguetta, Maniquette, Melaguata, Meligetta Pepper, Paprika, Paradieskorner, Paradise Grains, Paradise Nuts, Poivre de Guinée, Sweet Pepper

Ivory Coast

This is the small, red-brown irregular seeds of a cardamom-like plant. The seeds are 3-4 mm (1/8”) in diameter and are numerously contained in a brown wrinkled, fig-shaped dried capsule about 30mm (1-1/4”) in length; they have a white kernel. They are rarely found in the West.
Bouquet: Aromatic, spicy
Flavour: Pungent and peppery, tasting strongly of ginger and cardamom
Hotness: Picquant

Stimulant, carminative and diuretic, the seeds are mainly used in some veterinary medicines. They appear in old pharmacopoeias. Gerard (1597) says: ‘The graines chewed in the mouth draw forth from the head and stocke waterish pituitous homors...They also comfort and warme the weake, cold and feeble stomacke, helpe the ague, and rid the shaking fits, being drunke with Sacke’. The seeds and rhizomes are used in West African herbal medicines.

Melegueta pepper may be used for culinary purposes and as a substitute for pepper in centres of local production. Its use is generally confined to West African cookery, though it may also find its way into Moroccan ras el hanout combinations. Some ancient European recipes may call for it, but pepper mixed with a little ginger may be substituted. Today in Scandinavia, the seeds are used to flavour akavit. They may be chewed to sweeten the breath.