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African Bean Oil Seed (Pentaclethra macrophylla )

The African oil bean is a tropical tree crop found mostly in the coastal parts of West and Central Africa. It belongs to the Leguminosae family and the sub-family of Mimosoideae. It is a popular traditional food condiment among the southern and southern-eastern tribes. The oil bean seed is found in the fruit of the oil bean tree. The fruit is black, hard and with a woody pod. When it is mature, it splits open revealing up to 8 flat, brown and shiny seeds. In Cameroon, it is locally called button spice because of its unique characteristics of the shape of a button. It is added to food to give a strong aromatic flavor to soups.

Related Recipes: Achu Soup.

Aligator Pepper (Aframomum melegueta)

Aligator Pepper is a herbaceous flowering plant of the ginger family. It is commonly used in African cooking as an ethnic aromatic spice to add flavor to food in many African countries. In Cameroon it is used in traditional dishes such as Mbanga soup, Achu, Mbongo Tchobi, Pepper Soup, and more. Alligator Pepper has also been reported to have many health benefits.

 Related Recipes: Kwacoco and Banga Soup.