Cardamon, Grains-of-Paradise whole pods

Amomum villosum

Origin: West Africa
Form: Whole pods
Unit size: 1 ounce
Other names: Grains of Paradise, Melegueta pepper, alligator pepper, Guinea grains, Guinea pepper
Esoteric Uses:  Court cases, politics, career, male love, male aphrodisiac, attracts women to older established dignified males
Esoteric Associations: Sun, Fire
Incense Aroma: Will pop and move when roasted, deep nutty, musky aroma, like an exotic pepper, or like a clean mint-bdellium when burned

Grains of Paradise is a rare West African spice which has pungent, peppery flavor.  Unlike other members of the Cardamom family, this spice is most often used in seed rather than whole pod form.  Grains of Paradise ha a fiery and rather peppery taste and a great ‘cardamom-like’ aroma.

In West African folk medicine, grains of paradise are valued for their warming and digestive properties, and among the Efik people in Nigeria have been used in divination for determining guilt.  It has also been introduced to the Caribbean Islands, where it is used as medicine and in Voodoo rites.

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