Piper guineense is a West African species of Piper; the spice derived from its dried fruit is known as Ashanti pepper, Benin pepper, Edo pepper, false cubeb, Guinea cubeb, and called locally kale, kukauabe, masoro, etiñkeni, sasema, soro wisa, eyendo, eshasha by the Urhobo people, and oziza and uziza by the Igbo people of Nigeria. It is a close relative of cubeb pepper and a relative of black pepper and long pepper. Unlike cubeb, which is large and spherical in shape, Ashanti pepper grains are prolate spheroids, smaller and smoother than Cubeb pepper in appearance and generally bear a reddish tinge.[1] The stalks of Ashanti pepper berries are also distinctly curved whilst those of cubeb pepper are completely straight.[1] The terms West African pepper and Guinea pepper have also been used, but are ambiguous and may refer to grains of Selim or grains of paradise.
Samples of "Piper clusii" imported into Belgium from the Congo in 1895.
The plants that provide Ashanti pepper are vines that can grow up to 20 m in length, climbing up boles of trees by means of adventitious roots. These are native to topical regions of Central and Western Africa and are semi-cultivated in countries such as Nigeria where the leaves, known as uziza, are used as a flavouring for stews. Like other members of the pepper family, Ashanti pepper contains 5–8% of the chemical piperine which gives them their piquant taste. They contain large amounts of beta-caryophyllene, which is being investigated as an anti-inflammatory agent.[2] It also contains significant proportions (up to around 10%) of myristicin, elemicin, safrole, and dillapiol, as well as some apiole (around 1.4%).[citation needed]
In terms of flavour, Ashanti pepper is very similar to cubeb pepper but is less bitter and has a fresher, more herbaceous flavour and aroma than cubeb's more pine-like scent. Though known in Europe during the Middle Ages (it was a common spice in Rouen and Dieppe in 14th-century France), these days, its use is largely marginalized to West and Central Africa.
Use in cuisineedit
Ashanti pepper (dried fruits)
It is used in West African cuisine where it imparts spiciness and a pungent aroma to stews. Even in West Africa, Ashanti pepper is an expensive spice and is used sparingly. Often, a few grains are ground in a pestle and mortar before being added (along with black pepper) to soups or to boiled rice. The spice can also be substituted in any recipe calling for cubeb pepper, where Ashanti imparts a less bitter flavour. The pepper is also sometimes one of the ingredients in the Berbere spice mix used in the cuisines of Ethiopia and of Eritrea. However, West African Pepper is a highly esteemed spice in its region of origin and may be hard to get abroad; thus, long pepper is more often used in Berbere.
As a preservativeedit
Research shows that Ashanti peppers have preservative and anti-oxidant properties. In a comparison study of three native West African peppers on the preservation of catfish, Ashanti peppers were discovered to be the most effective.[3]
^Younis, Nancy S.; Mohamed, Maged E. (2019-05-19). "β-Caryophyllene as a Potential Protective Agent Against Myocardial Injury: The Role of Toll-Like Receptors". Molecules. 24 (10): 1929. doi:10.3390/molecules24101929. ISSN 1420-3049. PMC6572120. PMID 31109132.
^Kiin-Kabari, D. B.; Barimalaa, I. S.; Achinewhu, S. C.; Adeniji, T. A. (2011). "Effects of extracts from three indigenous spices on the chemical stability of smoke-dried catfish (Clarias lezera) during storage". African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. 11 (6). Retrieved 11 November 2012.
January 01, 1970
piper, guineense, guinea, cubeb, pepper, redirects, here, guinea, pepper, grains, selim, guinea, grains, melegueta, pepper, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, u. Guinea cubeb pepper redirects here For Guinea pepper see Grains of Selim For Guinea grains see Melegueta pepper This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Piper guineense news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2011 Learn how and when to remove this message Piper guineense is a West African species of Piper the spice derived from its dried fruit is known as Ashanti pepper Benin pepper Edo pepper false cubeb Guinea cubeb and called locally kale kukauabe masoro etinkeni sasema soro wisa eyendo eshasha by the Urhobo people and oziza and uziza by the Igbo people of Nigeria It is a close relative of cubeb pepper and a relative of black pepper and long pepper Unlike cubeb which is large and spherical in shape Ashanti pepper grains are prolate spheroids smaller and smoother than Cubeb pepper in appearance and generally bear a reddish tinge 1 The stalks of Ashanti pepper berries are also distinctly curved whilst those of cubeb pepper are completely straight 1 The terms West African pepper and Guinea pepper have also been used but are ambiguous and may refer to grains of Selim or grains of paradise Piper guineense Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Magnoliids Order Piperales Family Piperaceae Genus Piper Species P guineense Binomial name Piper guineenseSchumach Synonyms Piper clusii C DC Samples of Piper clusii imported into Belgium from the Congo in 1895 The plants that provide Ashanti pepper are vines that can grow up to 20 m in length climbing up boles of trees by means of adventitious roots These are native to topical regions of Central and Western Africa and are semi cultivated in countries such as Nigeria where the leaves known as uziza are used as a flavouring for stews Like other members of the pepper family Ashanti pepper contains 5 8 of the chemical piperine which gives them their piquant taste They contain large amounts of beta caryophyllene which is being investigated as an anti inflammatory agent 2 It also contains significant proportions up to around 10 of myristicin elemicin safrole and dillapiol as well as some apiole around 1 4 citation needed In terms of flavour Ashanti pepper is very similar to cubeb pepper but is less bitter and has a fresher more herbaceous flavour and aroma than cubeb s more pine like scent Though known in Europe during the Middle Ages it was a common spice in Rouen and Dieppe in 14th century France these days its use is largely marginalized to West and Central Africa Use in cuisine edit nbsp Ashanti pepper dried fruits It is used in West African cuisine where it imparts spiciness and a pungent aroma to stews Even in West Africa Ashanti pepper is an expensive spice and is used sparingly Often a few grains are ground in a pestle and mortar before being added along with black pepper to soups or to boiled rice The spice can also be substituted in any recipe calling for cubeb pepper where Ashanti imparts a less bitter flavour The pepper is also sometimes one of the ingredients in the Berbere spice mix used in the cuisines of Ethiopia and of Eritrea However West African Pepper is a highly esteemed spice in its region of origin and may be hard to get abroad thus long pepper is more often used in Berbere As a preservative editResearch shows that Ashanti peppers have preservative and anti oxidant properties In a comparison study of three native West African peppers on the preservation of catfish Ashanti peppers were discovered to be the most effective 3 References edit a b Katzer Gernot Cubeb pepper Piper cubeba cubebs Gernot Katzer s Spice Pages Retrieved 26 May 2015 Younis Nancy S Mohamed Maged E 2019 05 19 b Caryophyllene as a Potential Protective Agent Against Myocardial Injury The Role of Toll Like Receptors Molecules 24 10 1929 doi 10 3390 molecules24101929 ISSN 1420 3049 PMC 6572120 PMID 31109132 Kiin Kabari D B Barimalaa I S Achinewhu S C Adeniji T A 2011 Effects of extracts from three indigenous spices on the chemical stability of smoke dried catfish Clarias lezera during storage African Journal of Food Agriculture Nutrition and Development 11 6 Retrieved 11 November 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Piper guineense amp oldid 1180149614, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
