Grains of Selim

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The term Grains of Selim refers to the seeds of a shrubby tree, Xylopia aethiopica, found in Africa. It is also known as Guinea pepper, kimba pepper, African pepper, Moor pepper, Negro pepper, Kani pepper and Ethiopian pepper. The seeds have a musky flavor and are used as a pepper substitute. It is sometimes confused with grains of paradise.

In West African cookbooks, especially those from Cameroon, the spice is referred to as kieng, but the language that name is derived from is unknown.

[edit] Use in cuisine

The pods are crushed and added whole to soups or stews, then removed before serving the food.

[edit] References

  • The Oxford Companion to Food, by Alan Davidson, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-211579-0
  • Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages [1] (accessed October 26 2005)

[edit] See also

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Herbs and spices
Herbs

Basil · Bay leaf · Boldo · Borage · Cannabis · Chervil · Chives · Coriander leaf (cilantro) · Curry leaf · Dill · Epazote · Eryngium foetidum (long coriander) · Hoja santa · Holy basil · Houttuynia cordata (giấp cá) · Hyssop · Lavender · Lemon grass · Limnophila aromatica (rice paddy herb) · Lovage · Marjoram · Mint · Oregano · Parsley · Perilla · Rosemary · Rue · Sage · Savory · Sorrel · Stevia · Tarragon · Thai basil · Thyme · Vietnamese coriander (rau răm)

Spices

African pepper · Ajwain (bishop's weed) · Allspice · Amchur (mango powder) · Anise · Aromatic ginger · Asafoetida · Camphor · Caraway · Cardamom · Cardamom, black · Cassia · Cayenne pepper · Celery seed · Chili · Cinnamon · Clove · Coriander seed · Cubeb · Cumin · Cumin, black · Dill seed · Fennel · Fenugreek · Fingerroot (krachai) · Galangal, greater · Galangal, lesser · Garlic · Ginger · Grains of paradise · Horseradish · Juniper berry · Liquorice · Mace · Mahlab · Malabathrum (tejpat) · Mustard, black · Mustard, white · Nigella (kalonji) · Nutmeg · Paprika · Pepper, black · Pepper, green · Pepper, long · Pepper, pink, Brazilian · Pepper, pink, Peruvian · Pepper, white · Pomegranate seed (anardana) · Poppy seed · Saffron · Sarsaparilla · Sassafras · Sesame · Sichuan Pepper · Star anise · Sumac · Tasmanian pepper · Tamarind · Turmeric · Wasabi · Zedoary

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