Paradise Seed Oil

#### Paradise Seed Oil. Among the very first spices (or "aromatic seeds") to be brought from Africa to Europe was a "pepper" from the countries along the West African coast near Equator. This coast was hence named the "Pepper Coast", but no true black pepper was actually found there. The seed from **Amomum Melegueta**, a plant related to ginger, is known in medicine as **Paradise**** ****Seed**** **or **Melegueta**** ****Pepper**. The seed occurs as an adulterant in black pepper and cubeb, but it is also imported as such as a spice. When comminuted, the small black seed emits a strong, sweet-fruity odor, reminiscent of strawberry and banana. This may have intrigued the scientists of the 17th century who succeeded in preparing an essential oil from the seed almost 300 years ago. **Paradise Seed Oil **is a pale yellow to brownish colored liquid with a spicy-woody, somewhat sweet, faintly peppery odor. The flavor is warm, slightly biting, but not pungent. The essential oil is not a regularly produced item, and it seems to have evaded the noses of the perfumers and flavorists. It is possible that the oil really is of little or no interest to the perfume and flavor industry, but since the seed is commercially available, and because of the peculiar odor of the crushed seed, the author found it worthwhile mentioning this oil. The author has no personal experience with *extracts *of paradise seed. Such preparations do exist, and they do exhibit the same fruity aroma as does the essential oil.