Rondelle du nord BOUBA, also called bobimbi or country onion, is the dried fruit of the Cameroonian tree Afrostyrax lepidophyllus. Sold as whole seeds to crack yourself, it flavours sauces and marinades with a powerful aroma close to garlic. 100 g bag.
What is rondelle du nord (bobimbi)?
Bobimbi, also called olum or country onion depending on the region, is the dried fruit of a tree from the Huaceae family, nicknamed the “garlic tree” for its scent. It grows wild in the forests of southern, eastern and central Cameroon, around the Dja reserve, Kribi, Sangmélima and Abong-Mbang. The name “rondelle du nord” is the commercial name of this bag: the species itself does not come from the country's northern regions. Classified as vulnerable by the IUCN, the tree only fruits about once every four years, yielding 200 to 500 g of seeds per tree per year, which explains the scarcity and high price of this spice on Cameroonian markets.
How to use it?
The seeds are hard: crack them with a mortar and pestle or a nutcracker, then rinse them before use. You can lightly roast them to intensify the aroma, then grind them in a blender to get a powder of varying fineness. Allow 2 to 3 pieces for a dish for 4 people, added whole or crushed at the start of cooking in sauces and broths. Bobimbi flavours mbongo tchobi, sauce jaune, nkui, sanga, pepper soup or poulet DG, and can replace garlic and onion in a marinade.
What to pair it with?
With mbongo tchobi in grains by NUMBER ONE or sauce jaune condiment, to recreate the flavours of Cameroon's Littoral region. The recipe for mbongo tchobi is on the blog, and Cameroonian cuisine has its own section. In the same section: Rondelle du nord entier BOUBA.
Product information
- Brand: BOUBA (distributed by Tai Yat)
- Contents: 100 g bag, whole seeds
- Product: rondelle (bobimbi), dried fruit of Afrostyrax lepidophyllus
- Allergens: bobimbi is not one of the 14 allergens that must be declared in the European Union. Check the bag's ingredient list for any trace mentions
- Origin: Cameroon (forests of the South, East and Centre)
- Storage: away from air, moisture and light, in an airtight container
