Африканские специи
What are the most popular African Herbs used for culinary purposes?
- Rocket (Eruca vesicaria) is an edible, leafy green plant native to the Mediterranean region including Morocco and Portugal. It is closely related to the family Brassicaceae (cabbage). African garden rocket is used a condiments, vegetable, and oil crop. For its strong peppery taste, raw young leaves are often used in meat broths and salads. Cooked matured leaves are added in sauces. Apart from culinary uses, this African Herb has numerous medicinal benefits. It is used to combat mild to severe eye infections, stomach and kidney ailments. It is an excellent stomachic stimulant, diuretic and antiscorbutic. The leaves are often applied as a rubefacient on the skin. In the Mediterranean region, Garden rocket has been always considered as a potent aphrodisiac. African garden rocket oil is used to sooth burn injuries.
- Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) is a popular perennial African Herb which belongs to the family Asteraceae (wormwood). It has anise-like aroma. Tarragon is the main ingredient in the well-known French-African creole (prevalent in North Africa) sauce called as "remoulade". If chewed, Tarragon leaves have a numbing affect on the tongue and oral cavity. In southern Africa, Tarragon extract is used to treat feverish illnesses, improve digestive, eliminate intestinal roundworms in children, and cure menstrual illnesses. Leaf paste is externally used for burns and inflamed skin.
- African Blue Basil (Ocimum basilicum X O. kilimandscharicum) is characterized by bright green leaves with purple veinings on soft leaves that range in shape from long and thin to tall and rotund. African Blue Basil has a sharp sweet peppery flavor with traces of clove and mint. It is one of the extensively used South African herbs. It is used to season aromatic curries prepared with chives, cinnamon sticks, parsley, cardamom, coriander and dill. Small quantity of Basil complements tomato-based dishes like stews, soups, roasts, and cooked vegetables. This potent African Herb is used to boost immunity in cancer patients. Basil also decreases the risk of platelet aggregation in the blood. It is beneficial in reducing tension headaches, calm frayed nerves, and combat asthma, indigestion, stress, and diabetes.
- Alligator pepper (Aframomum exscapum) are the seeds of the perennial African herb commonly used in North African. It belongs to the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family, native to the West African coast. It imparts heat, pungency, and spicy aroma to traditional West African stews. In West Africa, Alligator pepper is an expensive herb and used sparingly.
- Calabash nutmeg (Monodora myristica) is a tropical plant belonging to the custard apple family (Annonaceae). Calabash nutmeg is widely used as an inexpensive nutmeg substitute. Ground calabash nutmeg is added to soups, stews, cakes and desserts. For medicinal purposes, Calabash nutmeg is used as stomachic, stimulant, and insect repellent.
- Njangsa (Ricinodendron heudelotii) are commonly found in tropical West Africa. The red-brown, aromatic seeds are sun-dried and used in West African soups or stews as a thickener, and flavoring agent. However, the oily seeds have mild bitter aftertaste. Njangsa is the key ingredient of Mbongo Tchòbi, a classic recipe of the Bassa people living in Cameroon. R. heudelotii is often crumbled into rice recipes as a flavoring.
- Baobab (Adansonia digitata) is a versatile tree commonly found on the African continent. Young leaves are eaten as a substitute of spinach. Dried leaves are either made into a fine powder or as a coarser powder (tisane). Cooked or raw leaves are commonly eaten as salad green in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and the Sahel. In Nigeria, Baobab leaves are called as "kuka", and used to make the classic kuka soup. The dry pulp of the fruit, after separation from the seeds and fibers, is eaten directly or added into milk or porridge.