A foundational Nigerian seasoning built from indigenous spices. The everyday blend that adds depth without heat.
Ingredients
Tatashe powder, country onion, ginger powder, Penja pepper, Nigerian lemon basil
Country Onion is a West African native spice with no direct Western equivalent — denser and more resinous than common onion, with a musky, lingering depth. Nigerian Curry Leaves are distinct from South Asian curry leaves; they carry a lighter, more herbal quality that rounds out bold spice blends.
Flavor Profile
Hot, Smoky, Garlicky
Produced In
Lagos, Nigeria
The Blend
Native All Purpose Mix is a versatile Nigerian seasoning designed to work across every dish you cook, not just one cuisine or one protein. Built around Country Onion, White Penja Pepper, and Nigerian Curry Leaves, it delivers earthy, herbal depth that popular commercial seasoning cubes and generic all-purpose blends cannot replicate. This is what a seasoning foundation should taste like.
How to Use Native All Purpose
This blend is built for everyday cooking across any protein, grain, or vegetable. Layer it early so the flavors develop with heat.
- Season and marinate meat, fish, or chicken before cooking
- Add to soups, broths, and stews as a base seasoning
- Use in beans, lentils, and grain dishes that need depth without heat
- Stir into egg dishes, scrambles, or frittatas
- Build into rice dishes and one-pot meals
- Season your vegetables such as this Sauteed Kale & Mushroom or Mushdodo recipe
Start with a measured amount. Taste as it cooks. Adjust from there.
Why Native All Purpose Is Different
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Named Nigerian ingredients, not "spices." Country Onion, White Penja Pepper, and Nigerian Curry Leaves are identified by name — not hidden behind a generic label. What goes into your food should be specific.
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Blended in small batches, close to source. Blended in small batches in Nigeria, where these ingredients are sourced. Proximity to source preserves the freshness and accuracy of flavor that long supply chains typically strip out.
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Depth without heat. Most all-purpose seasonings lead with chili or salt. This blend leads with earthy, herbal complexity, which means it works across more dishes, including those where heat doesn't belong.
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No fillers, no cubes. No MSG, no maltodextrin, no bouillon base. It seasons by building flavor used for centuries, not simulating it.
FAQs
What is Native All Purpose Mix used for?
It's a foundational Nigerian seasoning for everyday cooking — meats, soups, stews, beans, grains, egg dishes, and one-pot meals. Any dish that needs savory depth without added heat.
How spicy is Native All Purpose Mix?
It is not a hot blend. White Penja Pepper adds gentle warmth and aroma; the overall profile is earthy and herbal. If you want heat, layer in fresh pepper or chili separately.
What is Country Onion and why is it in this blend?
Country Onion (Afrostyrax lepidophyllus) is a West African native spice with no Western equivalent. It has a deeper, more resinous quality than common onion — closer to garlic in its intensity but distinct in flavor. It is one of the foundational aromatics in Nigerian cooking.
What are Nigerian Curry Leaves and how do they differ from regular curry leaves?
Nigerian Curry Leaves (Murraya koenigii, locally called nchanwu or efirin nla depending on region) are lighter and more herbal than South Asian curry leaves. They contribute aroma and a gentle bitterness that rounds out bold spice blends without sharpness.
What is White Penja Pepper?
White Penja Pepper is a prized West and Central African pepper from the Penja Valley in Cameroon, known for its floral, aromatic heat rather than sharp spice. It holds Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, one of the few African spices to do so.
How is this different from a standard all-purpose seasoning?
Most commercial all-purpose seasonings are built on salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika, or rely on MSG and bouillon for flavor simulation. Native All Purpose Mix contains none of those shortcuts. Every ingredient is a named spice with a specific role and a Nigerian culinary context.
Can I use this for plant-based cooking?
Yes, it's fully plant-based and particularly effective in bean dishes, lentils, grain bowls, roasted vegetables, and tofu, where building savory depth without meat stock is the challenge this blend solves.
