Botanical name - Aframomum melegueta
Country of Origin - West Africa
Grains of paradise are peppery seeds from the Aframomum melegueta plant. They have been used in their native West Africa for centuries, and in Europe since at least the 800s. Today, they are commonly in use in Northern Africa as well, and less abundant in Europe.
This spice is also known as alligator pepper, Guinea grains, or melegueta pepper. As the alternate names would imply, it has a slightly peppery flavour, but the taste of grains of paradise is a bit more complex than that. The spice also tastes somewhat like coriander, ginger, and cardamom, with a citrus note and a scent which people sometimes describe as being very “floral.” It is milder than black pepper, but it still packs a kick, especially when applied in copious amounts.
There are numerous ways to use grains of paradise in cooking. Several West African dishes call specifically for this spice, with cooks using black pepper in a pinch when they cannot obtain it. It is also included in some African spice blends, and it can be used in dishes of Asian and European origin as well, for cooks who want a flavour somewhat more mild and complex than that of black pepper.