Agricultural Story #22

Welcome to my blog? Have you ever heard of uzazi leaf 🌿? Cube leaf and so on?

Please follow along as I tell you briefly about this leaf.

Cubeb leaf

This leaf is common here in Africa and it has so many names based on where the people are calling it from.

Different ethnic groups in Nigeria has different names for this leaf

The Igbo people of Nigeria call it Uzazi leaf, the Yoruba people call it Iyere and the Ibibio people of Nigeria call it Mfang Odusa.

How you call this leaf in your area?.

This leaf can also be identified by many other common names like Black pepper leaf, cubeb leaf, Guinea cubeb, Ashanti pepper. Its scientific name is piper guineense.

Almost all homes desire to have this leaf in their backyard but unfortunately, the leaf is not that easy to be transplanted and geminated. Few people are fortunate to have it in their homes. Some have planted it for good number of times without any success and they gave up and that makes both the leaf and the seed to be very expensive in my area.

Fortunately for me, I have a large space occupied by this precious leaf.

Myself and the leaf behind.

It wasn't an easy journey cultivating this leaf that you see crawling all over my fence today.

I don't give up in doing what is good and that is why I succeeded in planting it.

How is this leaf used?

Cubeb is a very important ingredient in my place as well as the Igbo people and Yoruba people of Nigeria.
This leaf is used to add flavour to soups, stews and porridge etc.

Piper guineense as the following characteristics

1. It is a shrub plant that is common here in Africa.

2. The leaves of piper guineense are used in cooking and spicing etc.

3. Its seed can be used in many ways. You can used it fresh or dry it, then pound it and use the power form to spice meat and fishe.

4. It has a very distinct aroma and at the same time is slightly peppery.

5. Use this leaf and cook soups and stews and you will thank me later. Hahahaha 🤣.

Fresh Uzazi leaf

Hope you have learn from this article.

Please tell me what you know about this leaf and the easiest way to plant and grow this leaf.

At this point, I am inviting @manuelhooks, @eliany and @dequeen to participate in this contest