Piper capense, widely known as Timiz, is an important spice from the Piperaceae family, native to East Africa, particularly in Ethiopia’s southwestern areas. Traditionally used for a myriad of health issues, Timiz holds a significant place in Ethiopian cuisine, embodying cultural traditions. The plant is distinctive in its morphology, with "timiz" in Amharic indicating its curly form. The flavor profile of Timiz is notably unique, exhibiting a milder and sweeter taste that is reminiscent of cloves and cardamom, which enhances its culinary versatility. Typically, the harvested and dried seed spikes are appreciated for their aromatic properties, which are further enhanced through traditional smoking methods. This review explores the traditional medicinal uses of Timiz, relying on ethnobotanical data that illustrate its employment among various African communities for treating ailments like digestive issues, respiratory infections, and other health problems. The results of research on the collection, conservation of accessions, agronomic practices such as watering frequency and media types, as well as propagation methods, are also highlighted. Furthermore, the review identifies challenges within the value chain, such as a lack of awareness regarding processing methods and quality control, stressing the necessity for improved practices to boost Timiz's marketability. Future directions for research, production, and market integration of Timiz in Ethiopia are also discussed, underscoring the multifaceted significance of this spice in Ethiopian culture and medicine while advocating for sustainable agricultural methods to support its cultivation and conservation.
Published in | Modern Chemistry (Volume 12, Issue 3) |
DOI | 10.11648/j.mc.20241203.12 |
Page(s) | 60-74 |
Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Ethiopia, Future Research Direction, Importance, Piper Capense, Threats, Timiz
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APA Style
Shehasen, M. Z. (2024). Exploring the Cultural Significance, Medicinal Properties, and Agricultural Practice Achievements of Timiz (Piper capense) in Ethiopia. Modern Chemistry, 12(3), 60-74. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mc.20241203.12
ACS Style
Shehasen, M. Z. Exploring the Cultural Significance, Medicinal Properties, and Agricultural Practice Achievements of Timiz (Piper capense) in Ethiopia. Mod. Chem. 2024, 12(3), 60-74. doi: 10.11648/j.mc.20241203.12
@article{10.11648/j.mc.20241203.12, author = {Mohammedsani Zakir Shehasen}, title = {Exploring the Cultural Significance, Medicinal Properties, and Agricultural Practice Achievements of Timiz (Piper capense) in Ethiopia }, journal = {Modern Chemistry}, volume = {12}, number = {3}, pages = {60-74}, doi = {10.11648/j.mc.20241203.12}, url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mc.20241203.12}, eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.mc.20241203.12}, abstract = {Piper capense, widely known as Timiz, is an important spice from the Piperaceae family, native to East Africa, particularly in Ethiopia’s southwestern areas. Traditionally used for a myriad of health issues, Timiz holds a significant place in Ethiopian cuisine, embodying cultural traditions. The plant is distinctive in its morphology, with "timiz" in Amharic indicating its curly form. The flavor profile of Timiz is notably unique, exhibiting a milder and sweeter taste that is reminiscent of cloves and cardamom, which enhances its culinary versatility. Typically, the harvested and dried seed spikes are appreciated for their aromatic properties, which are further enhanced through traditional smoking methods. This review explores the traditional medicinal uses of Timiz, relying on ethnobotanical data that illustrate its employment among various African communities for treating ailments like digestive issues, respiratory infections, and other health problems. The results of research on the collection, conservation of accessions, agronomic practices such as watering frequency and media types, as well as propagation methods, are also highlighted. Furthermore, the review identifies challenges within the value chain, such as a lack of awareness regarding processing methods and quality control, stressing the necessity for improved practices to boost Timiz's marketability. Future directions for research, production, and market integration of Timiz in Ethiopia are also discussed, underscoring the multifaceted significance of this spice in Ethiopian culture and medicine while advocating for sustainable agricultural methods to support its cultivation and conservation. }, year = {2024} }
TY - JOUR T1 - Exploring the Cultural Significance, Medicinal Properties, and Agricultural Practice Achievements of Timiz (Piper capense) in Ethiopia AU - Mohammedsani Zakir Shehasen Y1 - 2024/11/11 PY - 2024 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mc.20241203.12 DO - 10.11648/j.mc.20241203.12 T2 - Modern Chemistry JF - Modern Chemistry JO - Modern Chemistry SP - 60 EP - 74 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2329-180X UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.mc.20241203.12 AB - Piper capense, widely known as Timiz, is an important spice from the Piperaceae family, native to East Africa, particularly in Ethiopia’s southwestern areas. Traditionally used for a myriad of health issues, Timiz holds a significant place in Ethiopian cuisine, embodying cultural traditions. The plant is distinctive in its morphology, with "timiz" in Amharic indicating its curly form. The flavor profile of Timiz is notably unique, exhibiting a milder and sweeter taste that is reminiscent of cloves and cardamom, which enhances its culinary versatility. Typically, the harvested and dried seed spikes are appreciated for their aromatic properties, which are further enhanced through traditional smoking methods. This review explores the traditional medicinal uses of Timiz, relying on ethnobotanical data that illustrate its employment among various African communities for treating ailments like digestive issues, respiratory infections, and other health problems. The results of research on the collection, conservation of accessions, agronomic practices such as watering frequency and media types, as well as propagation methods, are also highlighted. Furthermore, the review identifies challenges within the value chain, such as a lack of awareness regarding processing methods and quality control, stressing the necessity for improved practices to boost Timiz's marketability. Future directions for research, production, and market integration of Timiz in Ethiopia are also discussed, underscoring the multifaceted significance of this spice in Ethiopian culture and medicine while advocating for sustainable agricultural methods to support its cultivation and conservation. VL - 12 IS - 3 ER -