Piment d'Espelette Powder AOP

A favorite of chefs around the world, Piment d'Espelette AOP is a spicy red pepper that originated in Mexico and came to Europe during the time of Christopher Columbus. Piment d'Espelette is famous for its sweet red pepper aroma, fruity flavor, and food-friendly heat, which brings great depth to dishes and complements many types of cuisine. The AOP (appellation d’origine protégée) designation is a European provenance guarantee, meaning this coveted spice can come only from 10 villages in a 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 can limit supplies of this precious spice. All cultivation and harvest are done by hand in a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Once harvested, the peppers are first air-dried and then slowly finished in a kiln according to strict AOP regulations. Our producer, Vincent Darritchon of La Maison du Piment, sells directly to us, which ensures excellent quality and verified product from the current year's harvest.