Seasonings & Spice Blends

Fermented Néré Seeds

Soumbala

Mali

A fermented condiment made from néré (African locust bean) seeds; a key flavoring in Malian and West African cuisine; the seeds are boiled, fermented, and dried; used to season sauces, stews, and soups; has a pungent, umami flavor; listed in What The World Eats as a core condiment of Mali; the Maggi cube of traditional Malian cooking.

Fermented Néré Seeds sticker illustration

Original eatfuls sticker artwork

What it is

A closer look at Fermented Néré Seeds.

A fermented condiment made from néré (African locust bean) seeds; a key flavoring in Malian and West African cuisine; the seeds are boiled, fermented, and dried; used to season sauces, stews, and soups; has a pungent, umami flavor; listed in What The World Eats as a core condiment of Mali; the Maggi cube of traditional Malian cooking.

What to look for

Know it when you find it.

The condiment should be dark and pungent; made from fermented néré seeds; used to season sauces, stews, and soups; a key flavoring in Mali; has an umami flavor; the Maggi cube of traditional cooking; found at every market; an acquired taste for outsiders.

Where it belongs

Origins and
traditions.

Food rarely respects a border. These are the places the dataset connects most strongly to Fermented Néré Seeds.

Native to

Mali

Country-wide tradition

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Traditional in

Burkina Faso

Country-wide tradition

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Traditional in

Niger

Country-wide tradition

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Traditional in

Benin

Country-wide tradition

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Traditional in

Guinea

Country-wide tradition

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Names around the table

One food, more than one name.

Fermented Néré Seedsprimary
Afitinlocal · 🇧🇯
Dawa Dawalocal · 🇳🇪
Soumbalalocal · 🇲🇱
Soumbalalocal · 🇧🇫

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