grains of paradise
- noun
:
granos de paraíso
- Stretching from Sherbro Island in Sierra Leone to Cape Palmas in Liberia, this rain-drenched, humid land is named for its abundant grains of paradise.
Examples
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The common name for the plant, grains of paradise, comes from its seeds and dates back to the Middle Ages, when the plant was a highly valued commodity.
Academic text (2007) -
The plant: Grains of paradise
Academic text (2007) -
The chef added a pinch of grains of paradise to enhance the dish's flavor.
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You can find grains of paradise in specialty spice stores for use in cooking.
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In traditional West African cuisine, grains of paradise are often used as a peppery seasoning.
Synonyms
A West African plant whose spicy seeds are used to flavor food
A West African spice made from small peppery seeds
A West African seed used as a strong, spicy flavor for food
A West African plant whose hot seeds people use as a spice and medicine
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'grains' (small seeds) and 'paradise' (an ideal place) make it plausible to infer 'seeds called paradise' and may hint that the phrase refers to a kind of seed or spice, so learners could partially guess its general nature. However, the specific botanical identity and culinary use (Aframomum melegueta, a West African spice) are not derivable from the words alone, so the meaning is only partially predictable.
Etymology
Grains of paradise comes from traders long ago who sold small, peppery seeds from West Africa, and these tiny grains smelled and tasted so special that people thought of paradise and gave them that name. That's why today grains of paradise means the spicy seeds used to flavour food and drinks.
