Knowledge rooted in Africa

The Herb Encyclopedia

A living library of African herbs. Where they come from, how they have been used for centuries, and how to bring them into your daily life.

Bitter aloe
Bitter aloe
South Africa's wild aloe is not the gel you know from the pharmacy. It is something far older, far more bitter, and far more powerful. Read more...
African wormwood
African wormwood
One of the most widely used medicinal plants across the African continent, bitter, aromatic, and deeply powerful. Read more...
Rooibos
Rooibos
South Africa's red bush has been steeped for centuries, naturally caffeine-free, deeply mineral, and one of the most antioxidant-rich plants on earth. Read more...
Vetiver root
Vetiver root
Known as gongolili in Guinea, khamare in Senegal, and khus across South Asia, vetiver root is one of the most grounding and deeply aromatic medicinal plants on earth. Celebrated for... Read more...
Jute malllow
Jute malllow
Known as boulvaka in Burkina Faso and ewedu in Nigeria, jute mallow has fed and healed West African communities for thousands of years. One of the most nutrient-dense leafy plants... Read more...
Acacia pods
Acacia pods
Sacred to Hausa healers for centuries, acacia pods have been used across northern Nigeria for feminine health, wound healing, and protection against infection long before modern medicine arrived. Read more...
Tamarind
Tamarind
A sour brown pod that built empires of flavor — tamarind has been at the center of African, Asian, and Caribbean cooking for millennia. Read more...
Ginger
Ginger
The root that travels everywhere but belongs to Africa — ginger has been traded, cooked, and healed with for over 5,000 years. Read more...
Tiger Nut
Tiger Nut
Found in ancient Egyptian tombs and sold by street vendors across West Africa today — tiger nut is one of humanity's oldest foods and one of nature's best prebiotics. Read more...
Palm Nut
Palm Nut
Cultivated in West Africa for over 5000 years — palm nut has been food, medicine and beauty treatment all at once across generations of African communities. Read more...
Boabab
Boabab
One of the oldest living things on earth — the baobab has sustained African communities for thousands of years and contains six times more vitamin C than oranges. Read more...
Moringa
Moringa
Called the miracle tree for good reason — moringa contains more iron than spinach, more calcium than milk and more vitamin C than oranges. One of Africa's most complete superfoods. Read more...
Grains of Selim
Grains of Selim
The smoky twisted pods that West African healers and cooks have relied on for centuries Grains of Selim are one of Africa's most complex and medicinal spices. Read more...
Bitter kola
Bitter kola
Offered at ceremonies and chewed before meals across West Africa for centuries, bitter kola is one of the continent's most respected and powerful medicinal seeds. Read more...
Hibiscus
Hibiscus
Called Bissap in Senegal and Zobo in Nigeria hibiscus has been brewed across Africa for centuries for blood pressure, skin health and pure celebration. Read more...
Cloves
Cloves
One of the most valuable spices in history, cloves have been used in West African healing for centuries for pain relief, digestion and immunity. Read more...
Rosemary
Rosemary
Used in Egyptian tombs, North African healing rituals and medieval medicine, rosemary is one of the oldest and most documented healing herbs in the world. Read more...
Aidan fruit
Aidan fruit
The West African pod known as Prekese in Ghana, used for centuries in postpartum care, cooking and healing. One of Africa's most complete medicinal herbs. Read more...