Alligator pepper, or mbongo spice, or hepper pepper is a North African spice which corresponds to the seeds and seed pods of Aframomum danielli.
It is a close relative of grains of paradise, obtained from the closely-related species, Aframomum melegueta.
Alligator pepper is sold as the entire pod containing the seeds.
The plants which provide alligator pepper are herbaceous perennials of the ginger family of flowering plants that are native to swampy habitats along the West African coast.
As mbongo spice the seeds of alligator pepper is often sold as the grains themselves, isolated from the pod and with the outer skin removed.
Mbongo spice is most commonly either Aframomum danielli and has a more floral aroma than Aframomum exscapum.
It is a common ingredient in West African cuisine where it imparts heat, pungency and a spicy aroma to classic West African soups.
Even in West Africa, alligator pepper is an expensive spice and is used sparingly.
Often a single whole pod is pounded in a pestle and mortar before half of it is added -along with black pepper- as a flavouring to West African soups or to boiled rice.
The spice can also be substituted in any recipe using grains of paradise or black cardamom to provide a hotter and more pungent flavour.