A legendary spice with a thousand uses

Once considered more precious than black pepper, Maniguette was one of the first African spices to reach medieval Europe. It was long used in royal kitchens, apothecaries, and traditional medicines for its subtle warmth and invigorating aromatic qualities.

Description

Small reddish-brown to blackish seeds, slightly rough surface, spicy, peppery flavor with a slightly lemony aftertaste.

Nomenclature

• Common names: Grain of Paradise, Maniguette, Guinea Pepper
• Latin name: Aframomum melegueta
• Family: Zingiberaceae (ginger family)
• Part used: Seed
• Shape: Whole
• Origin: West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast)
• English name: Grains of Paradise
• Name in German: Paradieskörner
• Name in Spanish: Granos del paraíso
• Name in Italian: Grani del paradiso
• Name in Arabic: حبوب الجنة

Main virtues

Powerful aromatic spice to stimulate natural digestion, tone culinary preparations or enhance warming and invigorating cosmetic treatments.

Main constituents

Gingerol, paradol, shogaol, essential oils (myrcene, limonene), aromatic resins.

Use and dosage

• Cuisine: Incorporated whole or ground into meat dishes, vegetables, marinades, or spicy drinks.
• Infusion: 5 to 8 crushed seeds for a cup of hot water, infuse for 5 minutes.
• Cosmetic: Used in warming body treatments and toning massage oils.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• Use sparingly internally for those sensitive to strong spices.
• Avoid excessive internal use during pregnancy without specialist advice.

History and origin

Highly prized since the 13th century on trans-Saharan trade routes, the Seed of Paradise enjoyed exceptional renown before the advent of Asian black pepper. Its evocative name illustrates the precious and mysterious aura that still surrounds it today.

Miscellaneous information

• Packaging: kraft bag, glass jar or secure food bulk.
• Storage: in a cool, dry place, away from direct light.
• Shelf life: up to 2 years without major deterioration.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• Encyclopedia of Aromatic Plants – Botanical Archives
• African Ethnobotany – Studies in Medieval Trade

🔎 Information

The products on aromacentre.fr are not medicines. They are natural, plant-based treatments. All usage advice on our site is for informational purposes only. Any additional requests should be made to a qualified healthcare professional. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, we are unable to publish this information on the site. Taking this product does not exempt you from consulting a doctor or prescribing it. Ask your doctor or healthcare practitioner for advice. Be sure to read the precautions for use before using any medicinal plants. The use of herbal preparations is not recommended without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with medications prescribed by the patient, reducing their therapeutic effectiveness or causing toxicity. They can also worsen the weakening of the body's vital functions, thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life-threatening risks.

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