Seasonings & Spice Blends
Guinean Soumbala
Soumbala
Haute-Guinée (Kankan / Malinké), Guinea
Fermented locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) condiment; the néré tree is called 'tree of peace' in Guinea; a natural flavour enhancer used in sauces; the umami seasoning of Guinean cuisine.
Original eatfuls sticker artwork
What it is
A closer look at Guinean Soumbala.
Fermented locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) condiment; the néré tree is called 'tree of peace' in Guinea; a natural flavour enhancer used in sauces; the umami seasoning of Guinean cuisine.
What to look for
Know it when you find it.
Dark brown, fermented bean cakes with a pungent aroma; sold at markets; the indigenous seasoning of Upper Guinea; added to sauces for depth.
Where it belongs
Origins and
traditions.
Food rarely respects a border. These are the places the dataset connects most strongly to Guinean Soumbala.
Names around the table
One food, more than one name.
Keep exploring
If this caught your eye…
Iran
Verjuice
آب غوره
Juice pressed from unripe grapes and bottled as a souring agent for stews, soups and salads — sharper and less fruity than lemon.
Connacht, Ireland
Achill Island sea salt
Achill Island sea salt is a condiment from County Mayo, rooted in local cooking tradition.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican Adobo
Adobo
A dry rub of garlic powder, oregano, black pepper, turmeric and salt, or its wet version loosened with vinegar and olive oil, worked into meat before cooking.
Iran
Advieh
ادویه
The Iranian spice blend — rose petals, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin and turmeric in varying proportions — mixed differently in every region and household.
Benin
Afitin
Fermented locust bean (néré/Parkia biglobosa) condiment; a powerful flavour enhancer; called 'African mustard' in Benin; the Fon name is afitin and Yoruba name is iru; essential to sauces.
Côte d'Ivoire
Akpi
Djansang seeds toasted and ground into a thickening, faintly bitter paste that goes into palm-nut and okra sauces.
Liberia
Akpi
Aromatic African nut used as a thickener and seasoning in Liberian soups and sauces.
Wales, United Kingdom
Anglesey sea salt
Anglesey sea salt is hand-harvested from seawater in the Menai Strait and sold as fine or flaked crystals.