The drink comes from the holy city of Touba, in the centre of Senegal. The recipe is simple: roast the coffee beans with the Selim pepper before grinding everything together. The hot water is then poured through the grounds, and the coffee is served sweet, in tiny glass cups.
Children do not normally drink Café Touba, but they grow up smelling it everywhere - it is part of the background of Senegalese streets. Many people start the day with a small cup. Drivers sip it on long journeys. Friends meet over it.
The coffee carts are a fixture of Senegalese cities. A vendor sets up with a big metal kettle, a stack of little glass cups, and a tiny stool. Customers wave hello, take a quick cup, and chat for a minute. It is more like meeting a neighbour than buying a coffee.
The drink has spread well beyond Senegal. You can find Café Touba in cities across West Africa, in France, in Italy, and in New York. Anywhere there is a community from Senegal, the cart usually follows.