The Nigerian Spice Index A–Z

International Herb

Widely used in Nigerian cooking

Oregano

Aromatic • Herbal

A robust dried or fresh herb used in marinades, sauces and contemporary seasoning blends.

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International Spice

Widely used in Nigerian cooking

Paprika

Peppery • Sweet

A ground red-pepper seasoning used for colour, mild sweetness or heat depending on the product.

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International Herb

Widely used in Nigerian cooking

Parsley

Fresh • Herbal

A fresh or dried herb used for a clean herbal note, colour and garnish.

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Aromatic

Pasakori

A regional ingredient name retained as a high-priority research record.

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Aromatic Fruit

Pepper Fruit

A named Nigerian aromatic fruit included for source-led documentation of its culinary identity and regional uses.

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Seasoning Blend

Seasoning blend

Pepper Soup Spice

Aromatic • Peppery • Warming · Hot heat

A variable family of aromatic blends used to season Nigerian pepper soups.

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International Herb

Widely used in Nigerian cooking

Rosemary

Aromatic • Herbal

A resinous aromatic herb used in marinades, roasts and contemporary Nigerian cooking.

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International Herb

Widely used in Nigerian cooking

Sage

Herbal • Savoury

A strongly savoury aromatic herb used sparingly in selected meat, stuffing and sauce preparations.

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Aromatic Herb

Scent Leaf

Aromatic • Herbal · Mild heat

A highly aromatic leaf used fresh in soups, sauces and pepper dishes.

Also known as: Nchuanwu

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Fresh Pepper

Shombo

Long red pepper; cayenne-type pepper

Peppery · Medium to hot heat

Shombo is a long Nigerian red pepper, often compared with cayenne-type pepper, used for red-chilli flavour and variable heat in pepper bases.

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Other Culinary Flavouring

Widely used in Nigerian cooking

Spring Onion

Fresh • Savoury

A fresh allium used for mild onion flavour, colour and finishing freshness.

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International Spice

Widely used in Nigerian cooking

Star Anise

Aromatic • Sweet

A strongly anise-scented dried fruit spice used sparingly in drinks, broths and blends.

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Seasoning Blend

Seasoning blend

Suya Spice

Nutty • Peppery • Savoury · Hot heat

A savoury, peppery seasoning blend associated with Nigerian suya.

Also known as: Yaji

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International Herb

Widely used in Nigerian cooking

Sweet Basil

Aromatic • Herbal

A soft aromatic herb used fresh or dried in sauces, stews and contemporary dishes.

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Fruit

Tamarind

Fruity • Tangy

A tangy fruit ingredient used to add sourness and depth to drinks, sauces and dishes.

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Fresh Pepper

Tatashe

Sweet red pepper

Mild • Sweet · Mild heat

Tatashe pepper is a large, mild red pepper commonly called red bell pepper or sweet red pepper, used for colour and body in Nigerian jollof and stew bases.

Also known as: Tatashe

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International Herb

Widely used in Nigerian cooking

Thyme

Herbal • Savoury

A savoury aromatic herb widely used in Nigerian rice, stews, meat dishes and seasoning blends.

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Root

Widely used in Nigerian cooking

Turmeric

Earthy • Warming

A golden rhizome used fresh or ground for earthy flavour and vivid colour.

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Pod spice

Uda

Grains of Selim

Peppery • Smoky · Mild heat

Uda is the Nigerian spice commonly called grains of Selim: a dried Xylopia aethiopica fruit with a smoky, peppery aroma for pepper soup and broths.

Also known as: Uda

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Seasoning Blend

Seasoning blend

Ukodo Spice

A seasoning-blend category associated with ukodo preparations; recipes and packaged formulas can vary.

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Soup Thickener

Ukpo

A processed Nigerian soup thickener commonly identified in food-science studies as Mucuna sloanei seed flour.

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Aromatic

Umilo

A named regional aromatic retained for structured research and future verification.

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Leaf

Utazi

Bitter • Herbal · Mild heat

A distinctive bitter leaf used to sharpen rich soups, sauces and garnishes.

Also known as: Utazi

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Aromatic Fruit

Uyayak

Aidan fruit

Aromatic • Warming

An aromatic dried fruit used to perfume broths and regional soups.

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