Taste of Africa

A deeper exploration of Middle Eastern cuisine has paved the way for emerging flavors and ingredients from West Africa.

Manitou Trading Co., a division of Woodland Foods, is launching a pair of West African-inspired products featuring fonio, a nutty, nutritious ancient grain. Chai Spiced Fonio Breakfast Porridge combines teff and pearled fonio with pistachios, honey, palm sugar and coconut milk. Senegalese Fonio Pilaf is seasoned with a blend of onion, citrus juices and spices similar to Yassa, a staple sauce and marinade of West African cuisine.

A new product highlighted at Summer Fancy Food is Ginjan, a bottled soft drink featuring ginger, pineapple, lemon, vanilla and anise. Brothers and Conakry, Guinea, natives Rahim and Mohammed Diallo founded Ginjan Bros, L.L.C. in New York to commercialize the traditional West African beverage in the United States.

New from Kitchens of Africa is Kaani West African Hot Pepper Sauce, described as “fiery, bold and piquant yet garlicky, bright and complex.” From The Serious Foodie, the recently launched West African Paradise Rub features sweet and spicy African “grains of paradise” in a lemon-pepper blend.

READ MORE: Exotic indulgence