Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Did you know?

1. No African country names begin with the letters F, H, I, J, O, P, Q, V, W, X, or Y.

2. Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent.

3. The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa.

Popular African Spices

Popular African Food Spices List of popular African cooking spices you need to know​. 

Africans have developed a distinctive food pallet using a myriad of popular African spices in stews and soups, chutneys, fruits and vegetables and so much more.

Popular African Food Spices and Recipes

There are more exciting spices than salt and pepper. African food and culture explain a small sampling of common herbs and spices used in African cooking. Maggi cubes are used in almost every African recipe.

Popular African Food Spices and Recipes

African Bird Pepper
African Bird Pepper comes in a scorching 70,000 -150,000 Scoville Heat Units. African bird pepper, commonly referred to also as piri piri (pepper-pepper)

Cardamom
Cardamom has a gingery pine flavor and if using whole seeds crack before using.

Cinnamon
Cinnamon is made of ground dried tree bark, sometimes left whole. Most of the cinnamon comes from trees of the cinnamon cassia family.

Coriander
Coriander is the seed of the cilantro plant, the taste is citrus sweet flavor. The African countries of Morocco and Egypt produce a lot amount of the world’s coriander.

Cumin
Cumin is a member of the parsley family and has a strong earthy flavor. During the middle ages, people believed that a joyful life would come to the bride and groom who carried Cumin seeds during the entire wedding ceremony.

Fenugreek
Fenugreek is extremely fragrant and the taste is robust, sweet, and a bit bitter. In cooking, there is not really a substitute for this unique spice. 

Garlic
Garlic related to the lily family, grows in heads or clumps of cloves, and garlic is a relative of the onion. Cooks use garlic fresh and dried in recipes, garlic and has a strong flavor and concentrated aroma.Garlic related to the lily family, grows in heads or clumps of cloves, and garlic is a relative of the onion. Cooks use garlic fresh and dried in recipes, garlic and has a strong flavor and concentrated aroma.Garlic related to the lily family, grows in heads or clumps of cloves, and garlic is a relative of the onion. Cooks use garlic fresh and dried in recipes, garlic and has a strong flavor and concentrated aroma.

Ginger
Ginger is a clean, citrus warm intense taste too much ginger translates to hot and spicy on the tongue. Ginger is one of the most popular spices in Africa.

Lemon Grass
Lemon Grass has a strong citrus flavor, substitute for lemon zest in a recipe.

Maggi Cubes
Maggi seasoning cubes are used in almost every African recipe. Some ingredients in Maggi Cubes are palm oil, Wheat Flour, Sugar, Onions, Turmeric, White Pepper, Coriander, and Parsley.  

Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a sweet, nutty, heady fragrance and tastes warm and a bit sweet.

Saffron
Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice, Saffron threads are the stigma of the purple crocus and it takes 175,000-225,000 manually selected flowers to make a pound of saffron. Saffron has a strong aroma and a pungent, sweet taste and gives foods a brilliant yellow color.

Tamarind
Tamarind is native to the tropics of Africa tamarind is a brownish slightly sour tasting pod popular in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Turmeric
Turmeric is a sharp, peppery, slightly musty, earthy aroma with an astringent flavor. Turmeric also adds vivid yellow color to foods. 

Culture and Food of Africa would not be complete without including the African food spice recipe Garam Masala. This easy spice recipe is an easy recipe for vegetables, poultry, soups and stews.   

Popular African Food Spice Recipe Homemade Garam Masala

Serves 30

Total time from start to finish 10 minutes

Traditionally, South African Indian recipes call for garam masala, a blend of seven spices, cumin, coriander, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Spices give South African Indian cuisine its unique flavor and character. Most South African Indian recipes call for many different types of spices, many you may never have used. Do not assume that these Indian spices are hard to find, most are to be found in your local supermarkets, and if you cannot find them there, visit the local Indian grocery store. Garam masala is a strong spice mixture and is the heart of most Indian dishes.

Homemade Garam Masala Ingredients and Directions

Ingredients
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions
Mix all spices in a bowl, place mix in an airtight container, and store in a cool, dry place for up to 2 months. Ground spices lose their favors faster than whole spices; the best way to use homemade garam masala is in small batches.

Popular African Food Spice Recipe Homemade Garam Masala
Add caption

Africa is surrounded by water but is not an island, here are a few African Island facts.

Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biology, about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

Composed of 155 islands, Seychelles is Africa's smallest country. By far the largest island is Mahe, home to about 90% of the population and the site of its capital city of Victoria.

Cabo Verde has a strategic location 310 miles or 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site.

Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent. Continents can not be considered islands because of their size and also by historic definition since many people who study geography define islands and continents as two different things.

This Week’s Best Posts and Pages

African Food Culture from Jollof to Injera

Bike Life in The Gambia

What is the difference between ugali and fufu

Cultural Significance of the Medina of Marrakech

African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

Support African History and Culture

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet are dedicated to discovering, collecting and sharing African history and heritage celebrating 14 years of service in 2021. Share and support in the pride of being part of an important cultural and educational resource.



Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

Chic African Culture


Be better than average and support African history and culture. Since 2008 Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet highlight Africa through her food and culture. Contact us culture1africangourmet@gmail.com

More LOVE from Africa to Read About