Tirphal

Zanthoxylum rhetsa

spice

Small dried, split berries with a woody, lemony scent that tingles the tongue, in Konkan fish curries.

Origin

India (Konkan, Goa)

Season (United States)

all year round

Preparation

The husks are lightly crushed and added to the curry during cooking; three or four are enough.

Did you know?

It is a cousin of Sichuan pepper: only the husk is kept, the bitter seeds are discarded.