Native to Indonesia, it is the fruit of a plant which bays are recolted green and dried in sun. It was commoly used in China's Antiquity for its virtues against breathing problems. The Arabs imported cubeb to Europe in the Middle Ages, but its use was confined to medical and magial purposes. Very rare and not famous, cubeb is still present in many Northen Africa spices mixes, including ras el Hanout.
Cubeb is very subtil and fresh. Its bouquet is pungent, slightly camphorous, with a touch of nutmeg, lemon and eucalyptus.
Applications : cubeb would go well with meat (game, lamb, duck, guinea fowl), fish, sea food, foie gras, cheese and vegetable dishes. In desserts, it maches perfectly well with chocolate and fruit desserts : melon, fruit salads, citrus fruit and apricot sherbets, ...etc.
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