A Heavenly Spice
A member of the ginger family, these dark brown berries hold a flavour that has more in common with pepper or cardamom than its ginger cousin. The seeds release their punchy flavour when they’re ground and can be used as an alternative to pepper, or as a spice in their own right.
Grains of paradise – which earned their name from the claims of ancient spice traders who declared they could only grow in Eden – have a long and distinguished role in alcohol production. A flavouring for the ancient wine known as Hippocras, in 1855, England was importing vast amounts of this pepper botanical to flavour beer. A parliamentary act then forbade it to be used in aqua vita, cocktails and malt liquor and imports came to a sudden halt. In more recent years, the enticingly named grains of paradise has garnered new support as a popular botanical for gin.
The hard grains are frequently used as a pepper alternative in craft beers and gins – while they offer all the bite and warmth of pepper, they don’t have the same harshness, which makes them more palatable. The resulting infused drink will have a hot and spicy flavour with subtle and delicate hints of lavender, menthol and elderflower.
Although it’s widely used in West Africa to flavour dishes it’s less common in Europe – it has found its way into some blends of the Moroccan spice ras el hanout. The seeds do have some health benefits – namely they are diuretic, carminative and stimulating, but their use in health remedies is generally confined to veterinary medicines.
With a history stretching back more than 130 years, Joseph Flach & Sons continues to proudly supply wholesale botanicals to trade customers who demand quality and exceptional customer service. We have contacts and customers on six continents and long-standing relationships that ensure we can provide you with the finest quality ingredients.
We offer grains of paradise in the following form:
Grains Of Paradise Seeds Whole – Botanical name: Aframomum melegueta
Please note that many botanicals come in different forms and grades which may determine or improve their suitability for certain applications. At Joseph Flach & Sons we carry a large range of products in various forms and grades. Please do check with our experts if you require a specific grade or form and they will be delighted to help you.
All of our content is researched and reviewed by our experts. While we, Joseph Flach & Sons Ltd, do not make use of our products for health, beauty or other recreations such as brewing or distilling; our clients do. Please ensure that any products you buy from us are suitable and safe to use in your stock. We do not accept liability around the suitability of our products in any end-use.
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We supply high quality botanical raw materials in wholesale/bulk to businesses around the world. Take a look at the products and let us know what you are interested in, along with the desired quantity and delivery details. We'll then provide a bespoke quote.