Do you like chillies? You’ve probably already heard of piment d’Espelette. And if you’ve tasted it, you’ll know how much you like it. And with good reason: it’s the only spicy chilli pepper in France, and it has AOC status! But that’s not all: this pepper comes from the village of Espelette, which has become a must-try in the Basque Country! We’ve prepared an article to introduce you to this exceptional pepper in greater detail. So you can learn a little more about a food we love. We’re sure you’ll want to visit the village where it originated on a holiday!
Espelette chilli pepper, a must-try
Contrary to popular belief, piment d’Espelette doesn’t come from the Basque country! In fact, its origins lie in South America. However, it was imported to the Basque Country in the 16th century. Piment d’Espelette was not used in cooking from the outset. Initially, it was used for medicinal purposes. It began to arrive in kitchens to preserve meat and replace pepper in dishes. In 2000, this tasty pepper was even awarded the AOC label, recognizing it as a high-quality product, and production in the Basque Country continues to expand year after year.
Discover the city of this pepper
Piment d’Espelette has established itself comfortably in a village of the same name: Espelette in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Locals are particularly fond of its fragrance, the result of long sun-drying. But the pilent has also seduced to the point of producing its own derivatives, such as chocolate with Espelette chili or jelly! Espelette is therefore a town where you can easily find this pepper and its many derivatives in the various stores. But that’s not all: pimento peppers can also be found in every house, so you can enjoy a town with pimento peppers on the front of every house. From September onwards, you’ll be able to admire chillies garlanded along facades and balconies throughout the village. What’s more, every year Espelette organizes a pimento festival at the end of October (the last weekend). You’ll find plenty of activities and festivities around the chilli pepper, and it’s the ideal place to taste Espelette chilli pepper in all its forms!
Find more interesting facts about Foie Gras and the Basque Country on our Blog and tasty recipes in the Recipe section of our website!
