Grains of Paradise

Grains of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta) refers to one of the hardest to find spices which is a cross between pepper, ginger, and cardamom in flavor, but none of the three are related to Grains of Paradise. It is a very pungent seeds of a west African plant which taste like a spicy pepper. The plant produces a poppy like pod which contains about 50 of the small seeds that look like brown popcorn kernels. It is best added to to Middle Eastern lamb or eggplant dishes. Grains of Paradise is one of the spice included in Qalat Dakka, a Tunisian spice blend. Grains of Paradise is also known as "Malagueta pepper" or "Guinea grains".