Cymbium: the sea snail Senegal calls yeet
In short: cymbium is a large sea snail from the coasts of West Africa. In Senegal we call it yeet (also written yett, yette or yet). Dried and fermented, it becomes the seasoning that gives thieboudienne its taste. And its fishing is regulated by law: nothing under 17.5 cm.
Search for “cymbium” and you land on scientific pages: Cymbium pepo, Cymbium glans, the volute family. All correct, but they miss the point: in Senegal this shell is not a museum curiosity. It is everyday food, and I sell it.
What exactly is cymbium?
Cymbium is a gastropod mollusc: a big sea snail, if you like. It lives buried in the sand, in shallow water along the coast, from Senegal down to Angola.
There are several species. The largest, Cymbium glans, grows beyond 30 cm and can weigh several kilos. Cymbium pepo lives further north. Fishermen don't bother with Latin: for everyone, it is yeet.
Cymbium or yeet: one animal, two words
Cymbium is the genus name used by scientists. Yeet is its name in Wolof, the main language of Senegal. Wolof is spoken more than it is written, so everyone spells it by ear: yett, yette or yet. It is the same shellfish.
Why we don't take the small ones: the 17.5 cm rule
In Senegal, the law forbids catching cymbium under 17.5 cm, measured from the tip of the shell to its lowest point. Below that size the animal has not had time to reproduce. Catching it means eating tomorrow's harvest.
In the Îles du Saloum (the Saloum Delta), communities go further than the law. From June to August, they close fishing areas themselves, led above all by the women. Nobody forces them: it is a biological rest. The sea rests, the yeet grows.
Science is looking at it too. In 2023 and 2024, Senegalese and French researchers (ISRA-CRODT and the LEMAR laboratory in Brest, with JICA) studied cymbium growth in tanks at Ouakam and Pointe Sarène, to prepare a management plan and test farming.
The taste: why it is called the African Maggi
Fresh, cymbium flesh is as tender as butter. Dried and fermented, it develops a very powerful umami taste, deep and briny: the same family of flavours as fermented anchovies or Japanese dashi.
One small piece flavours a whole pot. That is why we call it the African Maggi: it does the job of a stock cube, naturally, with no additives. Our grandmothers used it long before stock cubes reached Africa.
Which dishes it goes into
Dried cymbium goes first into thieboudienne, Senegal's national dish, listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in 2021. You also find it in caldou (fish broth), soupou kandja (okra sauce) and mbakhalou Saloum.
The rule never changes: crumble it into the sauce at the start of cooking, it melts and flavours the whole dish. And salt afterwards, never before: it already brings salt.
Cymbium on video
Cymbium straight out of the sea (in French and Wolof)
Where to buy dried cymbium
I sell dried cymbium under its Senegalese name: Yeet Maggi, 6 € per 100 g. I only sell large pieces: that is not a sales pitch, it is the law and respect for the sea.
Shipping: France and Europe from our online shop. UK from €18.99, the Americas and Asia from €35.19 with Colissimo International (tracked). See all shipping rates. We do not ship to Africa.
Frequently asked questions about cymbium
What is cymbium?
A large sea snail (a gastropod mollusc) from the coasts of West Africa. In Senegal it is called yeet. Its flesh is dried and fermented, then used as a seasoning in thieboudienne.
Are cymbium and yeet the same thing?
Yes. Cymbium is the scientific name of the genus, yeet is its Wolof name. You will also see it written yett, yette or yet.
How big must a cymbium be to be caught?
At least 17.5 cm in Senegal. Below that size it is illegal: the animal has not yet had time to reproduce.
What does dried cymbium taste like?
A very powerful umami taste, deep and briny. One small piece flavours a whole pot, which is why it is nicknamed the African Maggi.
Where can I buy dried cymbium (yeet)?
Louma by Seggfaye sells large pieces of dried yeet under the name Yeet Maggi, in 100 g packs, shipped across Europe, the UK, the Americas and Asia (Colissimo International).
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