Aframonum (Aframonum melegueta)

Other names: tomato bean, guinea pepper, guinea cardamom, meleguet pepper, ammonium

Aframone, which is also known as grain of paradise, guinea pepper, guinea cardamom, meleguet pepper and ammon, is a spice with a distinctive, spicy flavour and pungent aroma that has many uses in a variety of products and cuisine. This green evergreen shrub usually grows to a height of about 1,5 metres and is native to tropical West Africa, where its fruit, which consists of tiny brownish-black seeds, has long been used in medieval medicine for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Aframon is now popular in many cultures for its unique flavor and aroma that add richness and depth to dishes.

Aframone is often used as a spice in West African, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, where it is added primarily to spicy dishes and meat products such as sausages, cold cuts and other types of cured meats. More recently, however, aframone has also begun to be used in certain types of alcoholic beverages, especially spirits such as gin, and producers are particularly enthusiastic about its spicy, slightly citrusy and slightly peppery flavour. Aphramone is also popular in some confectionery products where it adds an interesting and unusual flavour. Its specific taste and aroma also make it popular in perfumery, where it is often used as one of the main ingredients in perfume flavours.