Aframomum corrorima is a species offlowering plant in the ginger family,Zingiberaceae.[4] It is an herbaceousperennial that produces leafy stems 1–2 meters tall fromrhizomatous roots.[5] The alternately-arranged leaves are dark green, 10–30 cm long and 2.5–6 cm across, elliptical to oblong in shape.[6] Pinkflowers are borne near the ground and give way to red, fleshyfruits containing shiny brownseeds, which are typically 3–5 mm in diameter.[7]
The spice, known asEthiopian cardamom,false cardamom, orkorarima,[2] is obtained from the plant's seeds (usually dried), and is extensively used inEthiopian andEritrean cuisine. It is an ingredient inberbere,mitmita,awaze, and other spice mixtures, and is also used to flavorcoffee.[8] Its flavor is comparable to that of the closely relatedElettaria cardamomum or green cardamom.[9] In Ethiopianherbal medicine, the seeds are used as atonic,carminative, andlaxative.[10]
The plant is native toTanzania, westernEthiopia[2] (in the vicinity ofLake Tana andGelemso), southwesternSudan, westernUganda.[2] It iscultivated in both Ethiopia andEritrea,[2] although the fruits are typically harvested from wild plants.[11] The dried fruits are widely sold in markets and are relatively expensive, while fresh fruits are sold in production areas.[11]
^Amomum corrorima A.Braun, the basionym ofAframomum corrorima (A.Braun) P.C.M.Jansen, was originally described and published inFlora vol. 31, p. 95; 1848.GRIN."Amomum corrorima information from NPGS/GRIN".Taxonomy for Plants. NGRL, Beltsville, Maryland: USDA / ARS / NGRP. Archived fromthe original on 11 October 2012. RetrievedJune 19, 2011.
^Van Wyk, Ben-Erik (2013).Culinary Herbs and Spices of the World. The University of Chicago Press. p. 28.ISBN978-0-226-09166-2.
^Roussel, Bernard; Verdeaux, François (April 6–10, 2003)."Natural patrimony and local communities in ethiopia: Geographical advantages and limitations of a system of indications"(PDF).29th Annual Spring Symposium of Centre for African Studies. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 2006-11-26.This Zingiberaceae,Aframomum corrorima (Braun) Jansen, is gathered in forests, and also grown in gardens. It is a basic spice in Ethiopia, used to flavor coffee and as an ingredient in various widely used condiments (berbere, mitmita, awaze, among others).
^Hymete, A.; Rohloff, J.; Iversen, T.-H. (2006). "Essential oil from seeds and husks of Aframomum corrorima from Ethiopia".Flavour and Fragrance Journal.21 (4):642–644.doi:10.1002/ffj.1634. Cited in Eyobet al (2007), p. 373.
