FOODS & SPICES
Every item we sell begins as a plant, a pod or a seed with a long history. Here are the eight that show up most often in our jars — where they grow, how they're used, and why they matter.
01 · AFRICAN BOTANICAL
Across the Sahel, hibiscus calyces are dried on woven mats and steeped with ginger and cloves into zobo — the drink of celebrations, weddings and hot afternoons.
Benefit · Rich in anthocyanins and vitamin C; traditionally taken to support healthy blood pressure.
02 · AFRICAN BOTANICAL
Called the miracle tree from Senegal to Kenya, moringa grows fast in dry soil and has fed families through lean seasons for generations.
Benefit · A dense source of plant protein, iron and calcium.
03 · AFRICAN BOTANICAL
The fruit of the upside-down tree dries naturally inside its pod on the branch, so it is harvested already powdered by the sun.
Benefit · Exceptionally high in vitamin C and prebiotic fibre.
04 · AFRICAN BOTANICAL
In northern Ghana, shea nuts are gathered, roasted and hand-whipped by cooperatives of women who have carried the craft for centuries.
Benefit · Deeply emollient; vitamins A and E support skin barrier repair.
05 · AFRICAN BOTANICAL
Parkia seeds are boiled and fermented for days until they turn dark and pungent — West Africa's answer to miso.
Benefit · Fermented protein with probiotic character and natural umami.
06 · AFRICAN BOTANICAL
Grown between yam ridges, egusi vines shade the soil while their seeds are dried, shelled and milled for the family pot.
Benefit · High in protein, healthy fats, magnesium and zinc.
07 · AFRICAN BOTANICAL
Ogbono kernels are cracked from bush mango stones in the forest belt of Cameroon and south-eastern Nigeria.
Benefit · Soluble fibre traditionally associated with satiety and digestion.
08 · AFRICAN BOTANICAL
Smoky, resinous pods used in pepper soup and in the postpartum broths prepared for new mothers.
Benefit · Warming and aromatic; long used to soothe coughs and congestion.
Every botanical on this page is available in the shop, sourced from the region it comes from.
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