I was just wondering what was used to make food taste (apart from salt of course) before the advent of maggi and other western spices.

ajina motto(not really sure of the spelling) of course

ROTFLMAO@ Mamas over 35

It is called ''iru'' in yoruba

Slight, I am almost 32 this month. I hope this qualifies me. Ground dried crayfish does a wonderful trick in creating a phenomenal taste. In case, you are worried about seafood allergies, meat or fish stocks are also good. My father hated Maggi cubes in food. May his soul rest in peace.

Well, I hate these Maggi cubes, too. I have never used them nor will use them in my food.
There is something in it what makes people used to and every food has the same ground taste.
Am (over 40) still from "old school", means cooking without Maggi, Knorr and Co. Have learnt cooking
from my late grand mother. May her soul rest in peace.
Yeah, I was really surprised that you will hardly find someone cooking without Maggi, in Nigeria. Especially,
because you have so wonderful fresh herbs and reasons here, that actually Maggi is not needed.

Iru and ogiri were used in place of maggi in those days. People who crave for natural taste still do till now. If you don't like seeing them in your soup you can grind/blend them to paste and you'll still have your wonderful taste and tantalizing aroma. Lots of onion ground with your peppr or sliced in your soup/stew also bring out nice taste.

In addition, out mothers/grandmas cooked in clay pots and I tell you food cooked in these earthen items tastes natural and better than those cooked in modern cooking pots (though that's what I use too). I also use magi, but sparingly.

otilowaju:

In addition, out mothers/grandmas cooked in clay pots and I[b] tell you food cooked in these earthen items tastes natural and better than those cooked in modern cooking pots (though that's what I use too)[/b]. I also use magi, but sparingly.

How won't it taste better when we are clay (dust) as well. The same reason why meat is sweeter than fish or vegetables cos we are "higher animals". 

Just kidding

Isn't maggi just herbs and spices put together?

90% of the content materials are produced artificially. Taste amplifier, glutamate, yeast extract and a lot of fat. Practically nothing is real in the cube.

Yeast and fat make thick!
Cooking with fresh herbs and spices is better always. If one needs broth or vegetable stock for a food, one should cook it themselves.