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Four Corner Spice (Tetrapleura tetraptera)

locally known in Cameroon as 4 corner spice or essisang is a single-stemmed deciduous plant that grows on the fringe of the West and Central African rainforest zone. The fruit has four winged pods which gives it the local nomenclature as 4 corner spice. The fruit consists of a fleshy pulp that appears green when tender but shiny, glabrous, dark-purple-brown when mature and ripened with brownish-black seeds. Tetrapleura tetraptera is  one of the indigenous nutritive species used in cooking traditional dishes in many African countries. It has also been reported to have medicine benefits in managing diseases including diabetes, inflammation and hypertension.

Related Recipes: Kwanmkwala and Esubag, Kwacoco and Banga Soup.