Air-dried, hand-ground Campanian hot pepper. Zesty yet nutty flavor with notes of wood smoke and plenty of heat. Suggested for pasta and beans.
40 gram (1.41 ounce) glass jar
Hand-picked, mountain oregano from Campania, Italy
From the Alburni Mountains in Campania.
Suggested for roasted bell peppers, fresh feta cheese, veal cutlet, and of course, pizza!
10 gram (0.35 ounce) glass jar
This delicious dip will put you in a New Mexico state of mind! Wonderful as a dip or as a seasoning to bring any dish to the next level!
Add contents to 1 1/2 cups of sour cream and 1/2 cup real mayonnaise. Mix and let set refrigerated for 30 minutes. Makes about 2 cups.
This product does not contain peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, soy, or wheat.
Manufactured in a facility that processes egg, milk, soy, tree nuts and wheat.
Ingredients: Green Chile Powder, Salt, Garlic, and Onion.
1 ounce package
This Egyptian spice mixture is made by blending roasted sesame seeds, almonds, and hazelnuts with ground cumin, coriander, and sea salt.
Dukkah is traditionally served alongside hearty pieces of bread or crisp vegetables, and a small bowl of fantastic extra virgin olive oil. Dip your bread, or vegetable of choice, in the extra virgin olive oil and then in the Dukkah. The warmth of the spices is heightened by the richness of the extra virgin olive oil for an unforgettable bite.
Some wonderful uses:
Ingredients: sesame seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, spices, sea salt.
1.5 ounce resealable ziplock pouch
Want to try Dukkah for FREE? For every jar of Belazu Beldi Preserved Lemons you buy, we will give you a Dukkah spice blend for free. Simply add the Dukkah to your cart, along with the Preserved Lemons, and we will automatically set the price of the Dukkah to $0.00. No coupon required.
Saffron & Salt was inspired by the historical importance of saffron to the traditional rural economy of Abruzzo where producer Casina Rossa is located. Saffron & Salt is beautiful in its vibrant orange color, with whole saffron filaments mixed in, and its captivating flavor is perfect for white meat, seafood, and rice-based dishes.
The unmistakable flavor of saffron, combined with sea salt, will turn your normal dish into something incredible.
3.5 ounce glass jar
Casina Rossa's Fennel & Salt with Organic Fennel Pollen is crafted with top quality sea salt, blended with toasted fennel and organic fennel pollen from Tuscany's verdant Arno valley. This salt is an invaluable condiment for salads and vegetables, and is magic on bruschette, pastas, fish, chicken, pork, and grilled meats.
The unmistakable flavor of fennel combined with sea salt will turn your normal dish into something incredible.
Ingredients: Salt 90% (fennel seeds, black pepper, oregano, white pepper, laurel, grass pepper, curry, fennel pollen, thyme, juniper, pimento, mustard) in varying quantity.
Pollen Ranch hand harvests wild fennel pollen from private organic farms in California where fennel grows wild. They not only offer pure fennel and dill pollens, but Chef Bernard has taken these pollens to the next level, combining them with other herbs and spices to create a very special line of spice blends to complement and enhance vegetables, seafood, poultry, pork, beef, lamb, and even desserts!!
Fennel Pollen is a fabulous and alluring gourmet spice. Fennel Pollen has two to four times the flavor of a fennel bulb, or the fennel seed, so a little pollen goes a long way. This gourmet spice can be sprinkled in practically everything to add that extra flavor dimension! Your imagination is your only limit. Add it to vegetables, seafood, poultry, meats, sauces, salads, and desserts. This is your "magic spice" and the secret ingredient used by gourmet chefs worldwide.
Bon Appetit named Pollen Ranch to the Top 15 Italian Pantry Staples Made in America! Try this magical fennel pollen to create amazing dishes in your own kitchen.
Recipes:
One great health benefit: Fennel's naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agents provide pain relief.
USDA Organic
Ingredients: Organic Pollen Ranch Fennel Pollen.
1 ounce metal tin
Pollen Ranch hand harvests dill pollen from private organic farms in California where dill grows wild. They not only offer pure fennel and dill pollens, but Chef Bernard has taken these pollens to the next level, combining them with other herbs and spices to create a very special line of spice blends to complement and enhance vegetables, seafood, poultry, pork, beef, lamb and even desserts!!
Dill Pollen is highly aromatic and bursting with freshness; this isn't anything close to those little jars of ground dill you get at the supermarket. This is dill in its purest and liveliest form. It brings out the flavor of smoked salmon, and will turn your grandma's egg salad into a culinary adventure even she will thank you for. Use this wild crafted dill pollen anywhere you would use ground or powdered dill, the difference is amazing. This is the best dill you will ever taste!
Bon Appetit named Pollen Ranch to the Top 15 Italian Pantry Staples Made in America! Try this magical dill pollen to create amazing dishes in your own kitchen.
Ingredients: Pollen Ranch Dill Pollen.
Pollen Ranch hand harvests wild fennel pollen from private organic farms in California where fennel grows wild. They not only offer pure fennel and dill pollens, but Chef Bernard has taken these pollens to the next level, combining them with other herbs and spices to create a very special line of spice blends to complement and enhance vegetables, seafood, poultry, pork, beef, lamb and even desserts!!
We love this bold and spicy "Little Devil" spice blend. The strong notes of garlic and onion, combined with the mouthwatering aroma of cumin and pepper, will turn your dish into an appetizing adventure your taste buds will never forget! This zesty and colorful seasoning is delicious on pasta and rice, will turn a regular shrimp sautee into an exciting and striking dish, and when dry rubbed on a piece of chicken or fish... you won’t believe the explosion of flavor. The slight hints of citrus, and the slight tanginess of mustard seeds, will make your taste buds come alive.
This is a "secret ingredient" that will surprise and amaze your guests.
Serving ideas:
Bon Appetit named Pollen Ranch to the Top 15 Italian Pantry Staples Made in America! Try this magical spice blend to create amazing dishes in your own kitchen.
Ingredients: Pollen Ranch Fennel Pollen, Fleur de Sel (Sea Salt), Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Paprika, Coriander, Pepper, Cayenne, Pasilla Pepper, Cumin, Annatto, Thyme, Parsley, Oregano, Mustard Seed, Sour Plum Powder, Lemon Grass.
Your pork and chicken will never be the same when they’re encrusted in this warm and toasty herb and seasoning blend. Crushed pecans give a nutty flavor, and cumin adds a touch of savory smoke that goes perfectly with any pork or poultry dish. Light citrus tones brighten and balance the flavor of this warm, aromatic blend. Add a dash to your chicken and dumplings to add depth of flavor, rub it on your chicken, or roll a pork tenderloin in it before roasting for a mellow spiciness that compliments the tender pork exquisitely. Nutty, flavorful, and delectable, this will be your "go to" seasoning for poultry and pork.
Bon Appetit named Pollen Ranch to the Top 15 Italian Pantry Staples Made in America! Try this magical Hog Heaven Spice Blend to create amazing dishes in your own kitchen.
Ingredients: Pollen Ranch Fennel Pollen, crushed toasted pecans, dried chervil flakes, Fleur de Sel (sea salt), ground cumin, ground annatto, lemon peel
Two words describe the Sicilian terrain where our producer and friend, the Marino family, has generational roots as far back as they can remember: warm and pure.
The Marino family proudly produces organic products on their farm in southeastern Sicily in the Italian province of Siracusa. Their native terroir, enriched by the Sicilian sun, as well as by tradition-bound stewardship, yields deep, pure, amazing flavors.
Grown in the prestigious Monte Iblei zone of southeastern Sicily, this Wild Organic Sicilian Fennel Seed is hand harvested.
Uses:
This is a micro-production, we only get 36 jars a year. GRAB SOME for your own kitchen!
1.6 ounce (50 gram) glass jar
Artisan quality La Chinata (Denomination of Origin "Pimentón de la Vera") is generally accepted as the best. It is grown, smoked, and milled in the micro-climate of La Vera, Spain not far from where Columbus presented the first plants to Ferdinand and Isabela.
You will find this pimentón wood smoked paprika is a unique and versatile seasoning. If there is one spice that captures the essential flavor of Spain, it is this one. This is not the bland paprika you get at the local supermarket. Three different varieties of pimiento are slowly smoked over a low flame to produce a superb, intense flavor.
You will discover that our La Chinata Smoked Paprika is an excellent addition to some of your favorite recipes.
Gluten Free
70 gram (2.47 ounce) metal tin
750 gram (26 ounce) metal tin
Mina Harissa is a traditional Moroccan red pepper sauce, carefully blended using only 6 simple, all natural, ingredients: red chili pepper, red bell pepper, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, salt.
Harissa is hailed as the heart and soul of Moroccan cuisine. It is imbued with all the culinary passions of a country and a people, and is the central condiment that sits atop every kitchen table in North Africa. People use it as a spread, a dip, and drizzled on top of nearly every dish. Harissa is the ultimate red pepper condiment and sauce that, with its spicy kick, transforms many dishes into a culinary delight.
Appearing on classic and contemporary menus as the star condiment, it goes equally well with New Zealand lamb, Southern barbecued chicken, scallops Provencal, or a vegetable tagine with couscous. This harissa will transform your meal into a culinary journey.
This harissa, unlike so many on the market that are overwhelmingly spicy just to be spicy-hot, is ALL ABOUT FLAVOR, with just enough zing to keep it interesting.
You can even buy one jar of the regular, and one jar of the mild, and do your own custom blend to adjust the heat level to your own particular recipes and personal taste preferences!
See our recommended uses including our recipe for Mediterranean Stew with Harissa by clicking here.
All natural ingredients: red chili pepper, red bell pepper, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, salt.
Gluten-free.
10 ounce glass jar
Harissa is hailed as the heart and soul of Moroccan cuisine. It is imbued with all the culinary passions of a country and a people, and is the central condiment that sits atop every kitchen table in North Africa. People use it as a spread, a dip, and drizzled on top of nearly every dish. Harissa is the ultimate red pepper condiment and sauce that transforms many dishes into a culinary delight.
Appearing on classic and contemporary menus as the star condiment, it goes equally well with New Zealand lamb, Southern barbecued chicken, scallops Provencal, or a vegetable tagine with couscous. Whether it’s the spicy or mild, each of Mina’s jars will transform your meal into a culinary journey.
This harissa, unlike so many on the market that are overwhelmingly spicy just to be spicy-hot, is ALL ABOUT FLAVOR.
You can even buy one jar of the spicy, and one jar of the mild, and do your own custom blend to adjust the heat level to your own particular recipes and personal taste preferences!
See our recommended uses, as well as our recipe for Mediterranean Stew with Harissa by clicking here.
Nothing artificial, simply delicious!
This is a classic chutney for all Indian dishes. It makes an excellent base for sauces, stews, and curries. Also try pairing it with cheese for a delightful contrast in flavors. This classic chutney is a "must have"!!
Rosebud Farm fills their jars with generous quantities of fresh, seasonal ingredients, locally sourced, and organic where possible. They are made without any additives, preservatives, colorings, or gelling agents. Rosebud Farm's preserves are characterized by bold, fresh flavors, and have all the honesty and simplicity of the very best food you can prepare in your own kitchen.
Processed in a facility that also processes Peanuts, tree nuts (almonds), and wheat.
Ingredients: Mangoes (73%), unrefined sugar, cider vinegar, cardamom, coriander seeds, dried chillies, ginger.
7 ounce glass jar
The Hatch Valley is in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. It is located just off Interstate 25 about 40 miles northwest of Las Cruces, NM and approximately 80 miles northwest of El Paso, TX. The valley was formed millions of years ago from the flooding of the Rio Grande River. This flooding delivered rich mineral deposits that give the soil its special ability to produce a unique, flavorful chile. In addition, at an elevation of 4,000 feet, the rare mix of hot summer days, cool nights and ample water create the perfect growing conditions.
The Hatch chile is not actually a distinct variety of chile. It belongs to a group of long, green, mild Anaheim-type chile peppers that are especially prized for their superior quality. This pepper has a short season of only six weeks, and is harvested during late July and August. The fruit appearance is long and curvy and the pods range from 4” all the way to 12”. They are firmer than the Anaheim variety and have a greater range of flavor. They have a wonderful smell in their raw state and are wonderful when roasted.
Rarely seen outside of New Mexico, we are proud to be New Mexico based and able to ship this wonderful chile anywhere in the world. Read this wonderful article: Is New Mexico Hoarding All the Good Chile.
Ingredients: Hatch Valley Green Chile Peppers, Garlic Salt (salt, garlic), Lime Juice Concentrate.
16 ounce glass jar
Aji amarillo, or amarillo chile, is the most common type of aji and is one of the most important ingredients in Peruvian cooking. It has a heat level of 7 on a scale of 10 (50,000 Scoville units). It is great in combination with meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, pasta, and rice dishes, and is used to season nuts.
The unique flavor of the Aji Amarillo makes it worth seeking out and incorporating into your cooking. Even though it is a "chile pepper" it has a lot of fruitiness combined with its heat. It is a very versatile chile that will complement your dish without overwhelming it.
Recipe ideas:
Ingredients: Organic Amarillo chili, water, citric acid.
Refrigerate after opening.
8 ounce glass jar
One of the most common types of aji (chili) in Peru, Aji Panca is 3 to 5 inches in length and has a thick flesh that matures from a green to dark red in color. Distinct from the other ajis in its spiciness, Aji Panca is mild in heat intensity (a heat level of 2 on a scale of 10; 1,500 Scoville units) and provides a fruity, berry-like flavor that goes well in stews, sauces, and fish dishes.
Aji panca is so sweet, so berry-like, that it can be finely chopped or ground into a powder and tossed into foods to add a sweet, mild heat.
To create a paste, remove the stems and soak ajis in water overnight. Drain and mix ajis in a blender with salt, pepper, garlic and extra virgin olive oil. For a more mild paste, remove the seeds and veins before blending. You can freeze the paste for longer storage as necessary.
Ingredients: Organic Panca chili.
1.25 ounce bag
Aji amarillo, or amarillo chili, is the most common type of aji and is one of the most important ingredients in Peruvian cooking. It has a heat level of 7 on a scale of 10 (50,000 Scoville units). It is great in combination with meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, pasta, and rice dishes, and is used to season nuts.
The unique flavor of the Aji Amarillo makes it worth seeking out and incorporating into your cooking. Even though it is a "chili pepper" it has a lot of fruitiness combined with its heat, unlike poblanos or jalapenos which can be harsh. It is a very versatile chili, suitable for everyday use as it will complement your dish without overwhelming it.
Try them in these recipes:
Ingredients: Organic Amarillo chili.
Aji Limo is a chili grown and used mostly on the northern coast of Peru. The pod is 2-3 inches long and changes from a yellow to deep reddish-orange color when it ripens. Aji Limo is spicy (a heat level of 8 on a scale of 10; 60,000 Scoville units) and is primarily used to prepare ceviche and rice dishes. It is also wonderful as a base for chicken and pasta recipes, and a perfect way to add an extra flavor dimension to stew and chili.
Ingredients: Organic Limo chili.
This beautiful nutmeg grinder can store 7-8 whole nutmeg seeds.
The mechanism has a double stainless steel grater blade and a strong claw, which enables you to finely grind your nutmeg without risking your fingers!
11 centimeter (4.5") round nutmeg grinder (Chocolate)
The mechanism has a double stainless steel grater blade and a strong claw, so you can finely grind your nutmeg without risking your fingers!
11 centimeter (4.5") round nutmeg grinder (Stainless Steel)
A specially designed mill for wet sea salt. The natural consistency and moisture content do not allow the use of an ordinary salt mill. Innovative patented system for a high-performance grind without blockage even with very humid or compressed salt. This specific mechanism is composed of 3 stops ensuring both mechanism resistance and constant output, and an anti-clogging spiral which shuffles the salt in the reservoir. Peugeot ceramic exclusive mechanism, Made in France.
18 centimeter (7") tall acrylic wet salt mill
Filled with luscious, sweet pineapple and spicy penja pepper, this confit combines these flavors in a perfect way. We think it is superb on roasted duck breast, wonderful on a ham sandwich, and delightful spread onto a warm scone with Swiss cheese.
Penja white pepper is a type of white pepper grown in the volcanic soil of the Penja Valley in Cameroon. This soil is rich in minerals due to the presence of volcanic soils, and that gives Penja White pepper a unique and pure taste.
Click here to learn more about Penja pepper and why it is so special?!
Master Jam Maker Bernard Le Gulvout's traditional techniques for small-scale production use an open jelly pan, the only way of bringing out the full subtlety of the flavors while retaining the richness of the natural colors. L'Epicurien has recreated the flavors of bygone days and produces unexpected combinations of tastes to ensure that eating is always a pleasure.
Tenacity, Know How and Passion enabled L’Epicurien to win an award for their range “Cheese & Fruit Confits”.
Based on traditional recipes, these savory confits provide an opportunity to taste some special flavor combinations. Serve them with meat or fish dishes, or spread them on mini-toasts as an appetizer. They are a tasting experience that transports you to the Mediterranean and beyond.
Ingredients: Pineapples (54%), Cane Sugar, Fruit Sugar,White Wine, Fruit Pectin, Penja Pepper (0.12%)
4.4 ounce glass jar
Grown in the prestigious Monte Iblei zone of southeastern Sicily, these local, fresh, wild, organic capers are hand-harvested and then salted with Trapani Sicilian sea salt. These surpass all the other salted capers we have eaten, their flavor and freshness is beyond your wildest imagination. They will inspire home cooks and chefs to add capers to every meal: from salads and antipasti, to roasted fish and pastas.
This is a micro-production, we only get 24 jars a year. GRAB SOME for your own kitchen!
Ingredients: Capers, salt 20%.
6.4 ounce (180 gram) glass jar
By boiling the shell of the lobster down with standard stock vegetables and grape seed oil, Groix and Nature creates their one of a kind Lobster Oil. A true delicacy, a little bit of this oil goes an incredibly long way. Whether you drizzle this Lobster Oil over mashed potatoes, sushi, risotto, or even your morning eggs, you will be surprised by the incredible flavor.
Each bottle also comes with a little recipe book of ideas.
Ingredients: Grapeseed Oil, Lobster (44%), Shallots, Carrots, Garlic.
Contains Shellfish.
100 milliliter (3.38 fluid ounces)
This versatile oil is gaining popularity among chefs for its pungent, food-friendly wasabi flavor and high smoke point. Use this small-batch, cold-pressed oil to create a bold vegetable sauté, perk up a salad, or add a kick to grilled shrimp.
This unique food-grade mustard seed oil offers the ideal balance of OMEGA-3 to OMEGA-6 fatty acids, and very low erucic acid levels. Now you can stir-fry with reckless abandon!
This Yandilla Mustard Seed Oil is cold-pressed from the whole seed, passed through multiple fine cloth filters, and bottled immediately. The oil thus retains its characteristic color, aroma, and spicy wasabi/mustard flavor. It contains no additives, preservatives, or GMOs.
A few recipe ideas:
Ingredients: cold-pressed mustard seed oil
375 milliliter (8.8 fluid ounce) bottle
WuWanWo means "forget me not", an apt name for a product with unique origins and an unforgettable flavor. WuWanWo is a collaborative effort between Piranske Soline and Taiwanese soy sauce makers. They weave their centuries-old traditions together to create a soy sauce with a sweet, oceanic aroma, and meaty taste.
This precious sauce is produced using only indigenous black soybeans, Piranske Soline sea salt from the Piran Salt Pans in Slovenia (a very famous salt source), brown sugar, and natural seasonings. This soy sauce is produced with absolutely no preservatives and it uses all non-GMO ingredients. Its balanced yet complex flavor is achieved through a 180 day natural fermentation in traditional terra cotta pots. The sauce is simply extracted from the pots and bottled.
It is an excellent umami foundation for marinades and salad dressings, and it will elevate your dishes to new heights your taste buds have never imagined!
This "Rich" soy sauce is characterized by bold, meaty flavors. Try it with stir-fried vegetables, rice, steamed fish, seafood, stewed or grilled meats, and in barbecue sauces and glazes.
This was featured in "The Rosengarten Report" where he said:
"...it is extraordinary! Also made with non-GMO black soybeans, no wheat, and a 180-day fermentation, it is simply one of the most complex soy sauces I’ve ever tasted. The flavors are umami from not just Slovenia, but maybe even Mars (including an incredible blast of mushroom-like intensity). It’s very, very salty (as if to emphasize the Slovenian connection), but it finishes in the mouth with a lovely roundness. I love it for crudo: I buy me some very fresh fish, slice it sashimi-style, and gloss it lightly with Hei-Jin and extra virgin olive oil. Of course, feel free to use it in high-level Chinese and Japanese cooking as well.”
Note they have lowered the salt content a bit since that review, and now the labels say "light salt" in order to reflect the new formulation which is, to us, even better.
250 milliliter glass bottle
It is an excellent umami foundation for marinades and salad dressings, and it elevates sashimi, sushi, spring rolls, tempura, dumplings and other light dishes to new heights your taste buds have never imagined.
This "Harmonious" soy sauce is characterized by a balanced, meaty flavor. Try it with sashimi, sushi, spring rolls, tempura, or dumplings, in marinades and salad dressings, and other light dishes.
In the Mediterranean, squid ink is used in many recipes: Paella, risotto, black rice, soup, pasta, and of course Chipirones en su Tinta (squid in its own ink). It is also regularly included in seafood stews. In Italian cooking, it is used to prepare spaghetti al nero di seppia.
Squid ink contains numerous amino acids and polysaccharides, so in addition to being delicious in recipes, it is also known to have many health benefits including treating depression.
Yes this squid ink is the same ink that they squirt at their attackers in order to escape.
Conservas de Cambados is based in Galicia in Northeast Spain. This is the region of the Arousa Ría, which is well-known not just for its size, but also for the richness of its marine life.
Ingredients: cuttlefish ink, water, and salt.
3.2 ounce (90 gram) glass jar.
Preserved doqq lemons are an authentic, and essential, component of many North African, Mediterranean, and Indian recipes.
These traditional doqq lemons (Citrus limonum Risso var. pusilla R), known in Morocco as citron beldi, or l'hamd beldi, grow in the Taroudant region outside of Agadir.
The thinner skin, and fragrant aroma, of doqq lemons, makes them the most highly prized lemons of North Africa. Paula Wolfert, an expert on Moroccan cuisine, considers them the crème de la crème in her book "The Food of Morocco".
These lemons have a delicate "zing", along with a tantalizing sweet and sour aroma, that is unmistakably and evocatively North African.
A few serving ideas:
They are so easy to incorporate into your recipes, simply give them a quick rinse under cool water to remove any excess salt, and then chop them up... you use the entire lemon, rind and all!
Note: preserving the lemons in salt removes the bitterness normally associated with the rind and pith... what you will find is a clean, bright, pure lemon flavor! Take a slice, pop it in your mouth, and see how magical preserved lemons can be!
No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Ingredients: Lemons, Water, Salt.
220 gram (7.76 ounce) (drained weight) glass jar
For every jar of Belazu Beldi Preserved Lemons you buy, we will give you a Dukkah spice blend for free. Simply add the Dukkah to your cart, along with the Preserved Lemons, and we will automatically set the price of the Dukkah to $0.00. No coupon required.
This fresh Japanese wasabi is chopped and marinated in soy sauce.
It is great on seafood, noodles, and meats.
Serving Suggestions:
Once you taste real, fresh wasabi, you will never use wasabi paste and powders again!
Product of Japan
Keep Frozen (we ship it with ice packs)
We only ship these on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
250 gram pouch (8.8 ounces)
Grown in the prestigious Monte Iblei zone of southeastern Sicily, this Organic Bay Leaf, from Sicilian Laurel, is hand harvested.
This is a micro-production, we only get 12 jars a year. GRAB SOME for your own kitchen!
0.7 ounce (20 gram) glass jar
Piment d’Espelette is famous for its modulated, food-friendly heat as well as its "sweet red pepper" perfume, which bring wonderful layers of flavor to your dishes.
The A.O.P. (Appellation d'Origine Protégée) designation means that this coveted spice can come only from the tiny, 22-square-kilometer region in and around Espelette, the French Basque town in a hilly, verdant region near Bayonne. The restricted area and precarious weather conditions of the Basque region limit the supplies of this precious spice.
Commercial cultivation of this spice originally began as a product of housewives’ gardens. Women grew the peppers in small quantities for home meals and sold the excess for pocket money. In fact, Marie-Jeanne, the mother of our producer at La Maison du Piment, Vincent Darrichion, was one of those women! She launched her family into the espelette business from her own kitchen garden.
The entire harvest is done by hand. The toil begins in late March, when the seeds must be sprouted in the greenhouse. Then in April, the seedlings are teased apart and placed into individual pots where they are tended in the greenhouse until they are about 18 inches tall. When the size is right, they are hand planted in the field. The peppers are like "indeterminate" tomatoes in that they ripen over a period of time. So the harvest can take a month or more, with many passes through the fields, as the farmer individually snaps or cuts the stem of each ripe pepper, being very careful to keep the top of the pepper intact so it will not be subject to rot. After the harvest, the peppers go back to the greenhouse where they are sun/air dried on wooden trays. The final step in this artisanal slow-drying process involves stacking these trays in a low-temperature oven for several hours to achieve the perfect texture.
The A.O.P. rules strictly govern the growing area, cultivation practices, drying protocol, and the size (mesh) of the Espelette powder itself. A.O.P. thus guarantees you are getting authentic Piment d'Espelette!
Ingredients: Piment d'Espelette Powder A.O.P.
15 gram (0.53 ounce) glass jar
