Sauce Graine

Sauce Graine, from Côte d'Ivoire. A traditional West African palm nut sauce base with deep, earthy flavour, a smooth body, and the comforting warmth of a dish central to Ivorian family cooking for generations.

What is Sauce Graine?

Sauce Graine is a rich, smooth palm nut sauce and the foundation of one of West Africa's most satisfying and widely loved meals. Made from the pulp of the palm nut, it carries a deep, earthy flavour and a texture that coats and nourishes without heaviness.

Across West Africa it is known by many names. In Côte d'Ivoire: Sauce Graine. In Nigeria: Banga Soup. Among the Igbo: Ofe Akwu. In Ghana: Abenkwan. In Cameroon: Mbanga. In Liberia: Palm Butter. The names change by country and by language. The depth of flavour does not.

This is the packet version: a traditional palm nut sauce base ready to cook from, without starting from raw fruit. It is an Ivorian pantry staple that belongs alongside attiéké, foutou, placali, rice, yam, and plantain.

Who this is for

For the West African diaspora in the UK who know this sauce from home: a reliable, convenient source of the real thing, without searching through specialist markets or buying more than you need.

For cooks trying West African food for the first time: Sauce Graine is one of the most direct and rewarding introductions to Ivorian cooking. Serve it with whatever you have to hand.

Ingredients and dietary

Ingredients: Palm nut pulp, water, salt

• Naturally gluten-free
• Dairy-free
• Vegan
• No artificial flavourings or colourings

Preparation

Simple to use

Mix with warm water and add directly to your pot. No straining needed. Add your meat, chicken, or fish, let it simmer, and within minutes your kitchen carries that unmistakable West African warmth.

Full step-by-step instructions included in every pack.

Serving suggestions

Sauce Graine is traditionally served alongside:

• Foutou, mashed yam or plantain
• Placali, fermented cassava paste
• Rice
• Attiéké, fermented cassava couscous
• Boiled yam or plantain
• Fish, chicken, meat, or vegetables

Practical details

• Weight: 500g per packet
• Origin: Côte d'Ivoire
• Format: packet
• Storage: Refrigerate after opening

Why Nogbous?

Palm nut sauce has been available in the UK for years, in tins and plain bags with no sourcing and no story. Nogbous started with a simple question: why are some of the world's most nourishing ingredients so hard to find in the UK, properly sourced and clearly presented?

No unnecessary additives. No overblown claims. Just real ingredients, from real places, for your everyday life.