Dictionary

grains of paradise en · NOUN

Etymology

From medieval spice traders claiming that the spice grew only in Eden, in order to inflate prices. Cf. French graines de paradis.

Meanings

1. (plural, plural-normally) The seeds or seed capsules of Aframomum melegueta, used as a medicine and spice, especially as a substitute for black pepper and in flavoring alcoholic beverages.
   • Guinea Grains and Grains of Paradise are considered, by the Trade, as one and the same article. 1812, James Smyth, The Practice of the Customs in the Entry, Examination, and Delivery of Goods and Merchandize, ii, p. 84:
   • When I found it [Two-Penny Drink] left a hot Tang behind it, it gave me just Reason to believe they had used Grains of Paradise, or long Pepper, both which will save Malt. 1743, William Ellis, supplement to The London & Country Brewer, 2nd ed., p. 288
   • "In fact this spice was making a second appearance in Europe: it was Guinea pepper, mentioned by Pliny as 'African pepper', and also known as Malaguetta pepper or grains of Paradise. Grains of Paradise had been very popular in the thirteenth century and again in the sixteenth; its popularity may have been due to the brilliant name thought up for it by some advertising genius born before his time." 1994, Anthea Bell, A History of Food, Wiley-Blackwell, translation of original by Maguelonne Toussaint-Samat, →ISBN, page 495:
   • ...graynes of paradise, hoote & moyst þey be... c. 1460, John Russell, The Boke of Nurture, page 126:
   • "Gærtner has figured the fruit and seeds of a scitamineous plant under the name of Zingiber Melægueta, and which he considered to be identical with the Grains of Paradise." 1844, Jonathan Pereira, “On Grains of Paradise”, in The American Journal of Pharmacy, page 97:
   • ...beer poisoned wi' grains o' paradise, and cocculus indicus. 1850, Charles Kingsley, chapter VIII, in Alton Locke, volume I, page 127:
   • "Also called Melegueta or Malagueta pepper, guinea grain, or guinea pepper, grains of paradise were prized as a spice and as a substitute for black pepper in Europe during the Middle Ages." 2006, Susheela Raghavan, Handbook of Spices, Seasonings, and Flavorings, 2nd edition, CRC Press, →ISBN, page 119:
2. (plural, plural-normally, uncommon) Aframomum melegueta itself, a herbaceous perennial plant native to the swamps of the West African coast.

Forms

Synonyms

melegueta (Aframomum melegueta) · guinea grains (Aframomum melegueta) · malagueta pepper (Aframomum melegueta) · Guinea pepper (Aframomum melegueta) · cardamom (Aframomum melegueta) · alligator pepper (Aframomum melegueta) · malagueta (Aframomum melegueta)

Translations (21)

de Guineapfeffer (spice) · ca malagueta (spice) · fr poivre de Guinée (spice) · de Malagettapfeffer (spice) · fi amomum (spice) · es pimienta melegueta (spice) · es pimienta de Guinea (spice) · cmn 摩洛哥豆蔻 (spice) · de Paradieskörner (spice) · pl aframon madagaskarski (spice) · es granos de paraiso (spice) · fi meleguetapippuri (spice) · es granos de Guinea (spice) · fr graines de paradis (spice) · pl amomum (spice) · fr poivre du paradis (spice) · es malagueta (spice) · fr malaguette (spice) · de Meleguetapfeffer (spice) · sv paradiskorn (spice) · fr maniguette (spice)