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Grains of paradise

Spice & roots· spice

What it is

Grains of paradise are the dried seed of Aframomum melegueta, a West African plant in the ginger family.

What it tastes like

On the nose: thyme, pine. Among its measured molecules: isoamyl benzoate, tricosane, p-α-dimethyl styrene, phellandral, endo-fenchol.

59 of 95 compounds on file carry a paper the library can cite.

• 1,8-cineolearomaterpenoidreads as camphor (PubChem)Measured in 38 of 341 ingredients.cite

  58.5% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil, the single largest component; text: 'the oil was dominated by oxygenated monoterpenes (83.3%), with 1,8-cineole (58.5%) and α-terpineol (19.4%) as the major compounds' — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 17 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• linaloolaromaalcoholreads as spicy, citrus taste (PubChem)Measured in 91 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 23 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• camphenearomaterpenoidreads as camphor (PubChem)Measured in 19 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.3% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 8 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• alpha-pinenearomaterpenoidreads as turpentine (PubChem)Measured in 72 of 341 ingredients.cite

  2.0% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 6 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• thymolaromaphenolreads as aromatic (PubChem)Measured in 9 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.1% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 47 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• isoamyl benzoatearomaesterMeasured in 1 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 51 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• carvonearomaterpenoidMeasured in 13 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 43 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• α-phellandrenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 29 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.3% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 13 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• γ‑terpinenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 44 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.9% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 19 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• α-terpinenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 16 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.3% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 14 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• p-cymenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 42 of 341 ingredients.cite

  1.1% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 15 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• 2-heptanonearomaketonereads as pear flavor (PubChem)Measured in 24 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 3 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• β-TerpineolaromaalcoholMeasured in 5 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 28 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• carvacrolaromaphenolreads as thymol (PubChem)Measured in 9 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.5% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 48 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• myrtenolaromaterpenoidMeasured in 4 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.2% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 38 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• 2-heptanolaromaalcoholMeasured in 7 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.2% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 4 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• terpinen-4-olaromaalcoholreads as pine (PubChem)Measured in 41 of 341 ingredients.cite

  1.4% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 32 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• terpinolenearomaterpenoidreads as terpene taste (PubChem)Measured in 38 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.8% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 20 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• γ-terpineolaromaterpenoidMeasured in 4 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 39 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• 2-methylbutyl acetatearomaesterMeasured in 5 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 2 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• tricosanearomaacidMeasured in 1 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.1% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 59 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• 2-nonanonearomaketoneMeasured in 11 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 22 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• Thymol methyl etheraromaterpenoidMeasured in 4 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 42 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• p-cymen-8-olaromaterpenoidMeasured in 4 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 35 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• beta-pinenearomaterpenoidreads as terpene (PubChem)Measured in 55 of 341 ingredients.cite

  7.1% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 10 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• alpha-terpineolaromaalcoholreads as floral, lilac (PubChem)Measured in 54 of 341 ingredients.cite

  19.4% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil, the second-largest component; named in text as a major compound — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 36 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• α-thujenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 19 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 5 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• sabinenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 32 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 9 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• limonenearomaterpenoidreads as lemon (PubChem)Measured in 92 of 341 ingredients.cite

  1.5% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 16 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• alpha-fenchenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 2 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.1% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 7 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• myrcenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 68 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.2% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 12 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• isoamyl acetatearomaesterreads as pear (PubChem)Measured in 26 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 1 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• nonanalaromaaldehydereads as orange-rose (PubChem)Measured in 62 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 24 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• myrtenalaromaterpenoidMeasured in 3 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.2% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 37 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• p-α-dimethyl styrenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 1 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.2% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 21 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• borneolaromaterpenoidreads as piney, camphor (PubChem)Measured in 13 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.2% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 30 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• carvacrol methyl etheraromaterpenoidMeasured in 3 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 44 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• trans-pinocarveolaromaterpenoidMeasured in 4 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.2% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 27 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• phellandralaromaterpenoidMeasured in 1 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.1% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 46 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• β-eudesmolaromaalcoholMeasured in 5 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.2% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 57 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• cryptonearomaketoneMeasured in 2 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 34 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• trans-carveolaromaterpenoidMeasured in 7 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 40 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• alpha-terpinyl acetatearomaterpenoidMeasured in 9 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 49 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• pinocarvonearomaterpenoidMeasured in 2 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 29 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• cis-carveolaromaterpenoidMeasured in 3 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 41 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• endo-fencholaromaterpenoidMeasured in 1 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.3% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 25 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• beta-selinenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 8 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 53 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• p-mentha-1,5-dien-8-olaromaMeasured in 1 of 341 ingredients.cite

  1.1% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 31 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• dehydro-1,8-cineolearomaetherMeasured in 1 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.1% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 11 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• Cinnamaldehydearomaaldehydereads as sweet taste (PubChem)Measured in 4 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 45 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• α-campholenalaromaaldehydeMeasured in 2 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 26 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• alpha-BisabololaromaterpenoidMeasured in 2 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 58 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• caryophyllenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 50 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 50 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• humulenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 26 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 52 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• beta-ocimenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 13 of 341 ingredients.cite

  0.1% of Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 18 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• 10-epi-gamma-eudesmolaromaterpenoidMeasured in 2 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 55 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• gamma-eudesmolaromaterpenoidMeasured in 2 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 56 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• 7-epi-alpha-selinenearomaterpenoidMeasured in 1 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 54 (Aframomum melegueta column))
• IsopinocarveolaromaterpenoidMeasured in 2 of 341 ingredients.cite

  trace (<0.1%) in Aframomum melegueta seed essential oil — Ngahang Kamte et al. 2017, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Table 1, row 33 (Aframomum melegueta column))