Prekese (Tetrapleura tetraptera)

Prekese is the dried, woody fruit pod of the West African tree commonly called Aidan fruit. The long, ridged pods are dark brown when mature and have a firm, fibrous exterior; the interior contains seeds and aromatic pulp. Its scent is sweet, warm and distinctly fragrant, with a flavour often described as sweet-spiced and slightly savoury.

In cooking, whole or broken pods are commonly simmered in soups, stews and drinks to infuse flavour, then removed or strained out. The fruit is also sold dried, and may be crushed or ground for seasoning. Nutrition comparisons depend on whether the pod is used whole, extracted into a liquid, or consumed as ground material, since these forms include different amounts of the fibrous pod and soluble components.