Maniguette , or seed of paradise , is a spice endemic to Africa, precisely to the subtropical region. It comes from the genus Aframomum melegueta and belongs to the same botanical family as ginger, Zingiberaceae . This perennial plant is renowned for its angular, shiny seeds, often used for their pungent, fragrant aroma.
The maniguette produces a brown pod containing many small seeds . These seeds, known as seed of paradise or Guinea pepper , are highly valued for their pungent flavor reminiscent of pepper, but with more subtle and complex notes. They are often used to flavor meats, particularly lamb, as well as soups and poultry.
Maniguette is also known as false pepper because although it shares some characteristics with black pepper, notably a spiciness, it belongs to a different botanical family. It is widely cultivated in an area stretching from Guinea to the center of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Maniguette is a herbaceous plant whose stems can reach up to 2 meters high. Its leaves measure between 18 to 22 cm long, and the inflorescences consist of a few flowers of 7 to 13 cm, often accompanied by a bract.
The leaves are lanceolate, glabrous and measure 18 to 22cm long, which is very long.
The corollas of the flowers can be white, pink or mauve with a yellow lip at the base and red at the apex.
When I traveled to Africa, I found the maniguette magnificent to the eye.
The maniguette seeds are slightly angular and shiny, red-brown in color, measuring approximately 3.5mm in diameter. the interior is white though.
- Did you know that it is part of the ginger family.
The plant has been known since ancient times and was introduced into various cuisines around the world thanks to Arab merchants.
In cooking, maniguette is used to flavor a variety of dishes, from stuffed tomatoes to stews, and is ideal for enhancing the flavors of game and all kinds of meats. It is also an important element of the African pharmacopoeia, recognized for its aphrodisiac virtues as well as its stimulating, diuretic and digestive properties.