Maggi® Cubes - African


Maggi Cubes, wrapped and unrapped

You will find Maggi Cubes called for in almost every West African recipe composed in recent times. These cubes are used incessantly in both restaurants and homes - except in regions too poor to afford them. They have almost completely replaced the traditional flavorings of Ogiri (fermented sesame seeds or other oil seeds) and Sumbala / Dawadawa (fermented locust bean seeds). While convenience is a major issue here, another major issue is the increasing difficulty of obtaining the locust bean seeds needed for Sumbala, and their ever increasing cost. Additionally, there is Nestlé's ubiquitous and bright red and yellow advertising of the product.

These cubes are rather small, about 0.55 inches / 14 mm on a side. Ingredients:   Iodized Salt, Sugar, Flavor Enhancers (Monosodium Glutamate, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate), Corn Starch, Vegetable fat (Palm), Hydrolysed Soya Beans, Water, Color (Ammonia Caramel), Onion, Ferric Pyrophosphate, Emulsifier (Soya Lecithin), Spice Extracts (White Pepper, Chili, Clove) Flavoring, Yeast Extract.

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Buying:

  These cubes are imperfectly available in North America, but may be found in some African specialty stores, or can be ordered on-line. The photo specimens were purchased for 2018 US $8.95 for 100 cubes (14-1/4 ounces), including shipping from England.

Substitutes:

sa_maggcbz 180414   -   www.clovegarden.com
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