Selim Berry 150g

Grains of Selim are the dried fruit of Xylopia aethiopica, a tree of tropical Africa found from Senegal to Cameroon. They are also known as Guinea pepper, kili, kani, or diar in Senegal. They are not round corns like black pepper but small, long, dark brown pods holding several seeds. The whole pod is used, husk included. G. Detou packs them in this 150 g resealable bag.

On the palate, resin comes first, then notes of clove, eucalyptus and cubeb pepper, moving on towards nutmeg. The pods are often smoked over a wood fire, which gives them their woody scent. In West Africa, they go whole into a stock, a fish soup or a tomato sauce at the start of cooking, and come out before serving. Roughly crushed, they season grilled meat, lamb or fish. In Senegal, coffee beans are roasted and ground with the pods to make Touba coffee. You can also infuse one in a syrup or a cream for a spiced dessert, in small amounts as the taste is strong.

The bag has a zip seal: keep it closed, dry and away from light. You will also find it on the shelves of our shop, 58 rue Tiquetonne, Paris.