Popular in West African cooking, this zesty and aromatic spice exudes an inviting, low-level heat that slowly builds in intensity -- without becoming overpowering -- and leaves a lingering, pleasantly warm tingle on the tongue. And while it's sometimes called alligator or Melegueta pepper, grains of paradise are dried seeds not berries, with a chestnut color and pyramid shape. You'll taste cardamom and hints of jasmine and citrus for a textured flavor less punchy than black pepper while boasting the very same versatility. It's also one of the components of raz el hanout, and is excellent in mulled wine, with potatoes and eggplants, and in braised lamb recipes. Also try it in soups and stews, with steaks, seafood, rich sauces, as well as spice cakes. Grains of paradise is just the thing you need to spice up your heavenly recipes, so put it in your peppermill, and use it as a finishing spice. 

Excellent in mulled wine, with potatoes and eggplants, and in braised lamb recipes. Also try it in soups and stews, with steaks, seafood, rich sauces, as well as spice cakes. Grains of paradise is just the thing you need to spice up your heavenly recipes, so put it in your peppermill, and use it as a finishing spice.

Fairway Marketplace is brought to you by Fairway Market, a specialty food chain that started back in 1933 with a small fruit and vegetable stand on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Today, Fairway Market is legendary for its experts and expertise in all things food, and a relentless obsession with quality throughout all of the different departments in its stores. In December of 2011, Fairway launched this online shop, so that we could bring the best of the best of what Fairway offers, at the same great values, to those who don’t live near one of our stores. Why keep all of this foodie goodness to ourselves? That simply would not be fair.