Country Onion

Country onion is the spice produced from the seeds of Afrostyrax lepidophyllus, a tall rainforest tree in the Huaceae family. Native to the forests of West and Central Africa, the seeds have a powerful aroma of garlic and onion despite having no relation to either. Grated or ground, and often after roasting, they season many soups, stews, and grilled dishes of Central Africa. The spice goes by many regional names: rondelles in Cameroon, bobimbi in Congo, and sinzakolo in Gabon.