Aframomum melegueta
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![A. melegueta pods at a market in São João dos Angolares, São Tomé Island, the fruits are eaten raw in that nation's cuisine and the local name is ossame.](/Images/godic/202501/16/Grainsofparadisefruits3627.jpg")
Aframomum melegueta is a species in the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. This spice, commonly known as grains of paradise, Melegueta pepper, alligator pepper, Guinea grains, fom wisa, or Guinea pepper, is obtained from the ground seeds; it imparts a pungent, peppery flavour with hints of citrus.