Espelette pepper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Espelette pepper |
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Drying Espelette peppers
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| Species | Capsicum annuum |
| Origin | France |
| Heat |  Medium |
| Scoville scale | 4,000 SHU |
The Espelette pepper (in French: Piment d'Espelette; in Basque: Ezpeletako biperra) is a special kind of chili pepper. It grows mainly in the town of Espelette in France, which is part of the Basque Country. This pepper is so special that it has a protected name, meaning only peppers grown in this specific area can be called "Espelette pepper." This rule started in 2000.
Contents
A Little History of Chili Peppers
Chili peppers first came from Central and South America. They arrived in France around the 1500s. At first, people used them as medicine. But soon, they became popular as a spice to flavor food. They were also used to help keep meats fresh.
Today, the Espelette pepper is a very important part of Basque cuisine. It has slowly taken the place of black pepper in many dishes. It is also a key ingredient in a traditional Basque dish called piperade.
Where Espelette Peppers Grow
Espelette peppers with the special protected name are grown in a few towns. These towns include Ainhoa, Cambo-les-Bains, Espelette, Halsou, Itxassou, Jatxou, Larressore, Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, Souraïde, and Ustaritz.
Farmers pick these peppers in late summer. In September, you can see long strings of peppers hanging. They are hung on balconies and house walls in these towns to dry. This is a very famous sight!
The Espelette Pepper Festival
Every year, there is a big pepper festival in Espelette. It has been held since 1968. This festival takes place on the last weekend of October. About 20,000 tourists come to enjoy the fun and learn about the peppers.
How Hot is the Espelette Pepper?
The Espelette pepper is not very hot. It scores up to 4,000 on the Scoville scale. This scale measures how spicy peppers are. So, it is considered a mild pepper.
You can buy Espelette peppers in different ways. They are sold as strings of fresh or dried peppers. You can also find them as ground pepper powder. Sometimes, they are sold as a smooth paste (purée) or pickled in jars.
Growing and Production
There are about 160 farmers who grow the special Espelette pepper. They plant peppers on a large area of land. In 2014, these farmers produced over 200 tons of powdered Espelette pepper. They also grew 1,300 tons of raw peppers.
See also
In Spanish: Pimiento de Espelette para niños
