Where to Buy Berbere in Dakar: The Ethiopian Spice Blend

To buy berbere in Dakar, the Ge'eza concept store in Point E stocks it in its fine food section, alongside other Ethiopian spices. It is for sale on site during restaurant hours, Tuesday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm, closed Monday, or can be set aside by WhatsApp at +221 78 660 07 07 until you come by.

What berbere is

Berbere is an Ethiopian spice blend built around chilli, and it gives their colour and depth to several dishes on the menu: siga wot (beef), doro wot (chicken), and shiro wot, the vegan fasting dish made from chickpeas. It is a fairly hot blend, best dosed to taste. For more on what it contains and how it is used, the article berbere, mitmita, niter kibbeh covers the core spices of Ethiopian cooking.

Using it at home

At home, berbere works like any spice blend: a pinch in a tomato sauce, rubbed onto meat before cooking, or mixed with a little oil to lift a vegetable dish. It pairs well with tomatoes, onions and legumes, and holds up through long, slow cooking without losing its flavour. Start with a small amount and adjust from there, as its heat can surprise anyone trying it for the first time.

Where to find it in Dakar

The Ge'eza concept store sells it directly on site, in the same place as the restaurant, the gallery and the art editions. It is also a chance to taste the dishes that use it before buying, to get a clear sense of what you are aiming for at home. If you are coming for a meal, leave a few minutes before or after to stop by the shop.

Other spices worth trying alongside it

Berbere is not the only spice on the shelf. Mitmita, a hotter, finer blend often served with raw or lightly seared meat, and niter kibbeh, the herbed clarified butter used to cook many of the wot dishes, sit next to it at the concept store. Buying all three together gives a fuller picture of what gives Ethiopian cooking its flavour, beyond the single word "spicy".

How to go about it

No booking is needed for the shop: simply drop by during opening hours. If you would rather check availability before coming, or have a bag set aside, a message on WhatsApp is enough. The concept store page presents the full range of fine foods and craft on sale on site.