Uzazi facts for kids
Uzazi is a special spice. It comes from the dried fruit of a plant called Zanthoxylum gilletii. This plant is a type of shrub that grows in West Africa. It loses its leaves every year. The plant is also known as Fagara tessmannii. It belongs to the 'prickly ash' family, called Zanthoxylum.
The name "Uzazi" comes from the Igbo language. This language is spoken in Nigeria. Nigeria is where the spice is grown and harvested. Zanthoxylum gilletii is a close relative of the Sichuan pepper. Uzazi tastes similar to this Asian spice. However, with Sichuan pepper, only the outer part of the fruit (called the pericarp) is used. For uzazi, the whole fruit is used, including both the pericarp and the seed. This might be why uzazi has a spicier taste. It also has a stronger, sharper flavor than Sichuan pepper.
Even in West Africa, uzazi is a rare spice. People usually add only about five or six dried fruits to a dish.
How Uzazi is Used in Cooking
The whole uzazi fruit is crushed into a powder. This is done using a mortar and pestle. The powder is then added to West African "soups." These "soups" are actually thick stews. Uzazi is used to add flavor to these dishes.
Uzazi is often used in stews that do not have many chili peppers. This allows the strong, sharp taste of the uzazi spice to stand out.
