The first week of Advent is now behind us, and soon the time will come to light another candle on our Advent wreath, as we get to know another ingredient together.
Today I'm introducing you to the Essesse / Esèsè or Quatre Cotés , the fruit of the Tetrapleura Tetraptera tree, which is found in tropical Africa, especially in rainforest regions. The term Quatre Côtés, meaning "four sides , comes from the fruit's shape, which also has four sides.
This great spice is not only suitable for seasoning savory dishes, but its slightly sweet aroma also makes it ideal for seasoning sweet dishes such as jam, cakes or tea.
Quatres Côtés is not only used in the kitchen, but even in cosmetics, where the spice is added to creams to ensure wonderfully soft skin.
Furthermore, quatre côtés has gained significant importance in traditional African medicine due to its use in treating numerous ailments and diseases, such as rheumatism, colds, fever, and more. It can also often alleviate afterpains and other postpartum discomforts in women when added as a spice to certain foods. With its high vitamin and mineral content, quatre côtés is definitely a spice I can highly recommend.
For me, it's an absolute must-have ingredient in my Magic Sauce, because it simply can't be done without a good portion of Esèsè! Just like Djansang , it only truly develops its full aroma after being lightly toasted shortly before processing.
In my next post, just before lighting the next Advent candle, I'll reveal the secret of another spice. So be sure to stay tuned!
