Espelette

Piment d'Espelette is a mildly hot, elongated chili pepper grown exclusively in ten communes of the French Basque Country and protected under European PDO status since 2002. The pods are harvested in late summer, dried in festoons on building facades, then ground into a bright-red powder with a fruity, slightly smoky flavor that is a defining condiment of Basque cuisine. It traditionally replaces black pepper in regional dishes and pairs especially well with seafood, eggs, and chicken.

Days to maturity

80–90 days

Plant height

60–90 cm (2–3 ft)

Best use

Finishing spice, Basque cooking

Species

Capsicum annuum

Origin

Basque Country, France