Ndong or maniguette (spicy) or Guinea pepper

You’ve no doubt seen many different colours of peppercorns. For the most part, they’re all brilliant and, above all, indispensable in our kitchens. However, there is one type of pepper that we’re not sure you’ve seen before. We’re talking about the maniguette, ginger’s cousin, which goes by a variety of names that we’re about to discover.

What is maniguette? Maniguette is a spice endemic to Ethiopia that goes by many names. It is also known as grains of paradise and Guinea pepper. It is also known as melegueta pepper, or Guinea pepper.

A little history about maniguette: In fact, in ancient times, the Greeks and Romans were already using this seed for its stimulating properties.

Then, in the Middle Ages, it enjoyed enormous success, especially in France. It also made its appearance in Europe in the 13th century. It became known as the seed of paradise, even though its origin was unknown.

It was precious and expensive, and was shipped by Arab merchants via the route to India. From there, it became highly prized and then its price fell.

The unsuspected virtues of the maniguette that you need to know about: In fact, you need to know that the whole maniguette plant is used for its benefits. In other words, its seeds are also used for medicinal purposes.

First of all, the stems of its roots, called rhizomes, are an antimicrobial and antifungal remedy;
Its long leaves are also used to help treat measles and gastrointestinal problems;
What’s more, this mysterious spice has anti-inflammatory properties;
It is also a good source of various minerals, including calcium, magnesium and zinc;
It also contains amino acids, including l-threonine, which can only be obtained from food;
Finally, it contains numerous antioxidants, in the form of flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids. These help to eliminate the free radicals that cause inflammation.