Piment d'Espelette - Red Chili Pepper Powder from France 1.4oz

by Biperduna

Product Features

• Espelette pepper (French: Piment d'Espelette; Basque: Ezpeletako biperra)
• Variety of pepper that is cultivated in the French commune of Espelette, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
• Traditionally the northern territory of the Basque people.
• In 2000, it was classified as a AOC (Appellation d'Origine Controlee, meaning the name is protected)
• Imported from France

Product Description

The plant, originally from Mexico and to a lesser extent South America, was introduced in France from the New World around the 16th century. After first being used medicinally, it has since become popular for preparing condiments and for the conservation of meat and ham. It is now a cornerstone of Basque cuisine, where it has gradually replaced black pepper and it is a key ingredient in piperade. AOC espelette peppers are cultivated in the following communes: Ainhoa, Cambo-les-Bains, Espelette, Halsou, Itxassou, Jatxou, Larressore, Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, Souraïde, and Ustaritz. It is harvested in late summer and, in September, characteristic festoons of pepper are hung on balconies and house walls throughout the communes to dry out. An annual pepper festival, attracting some 20,000 tourists, is held in October.

Product Details

• Item Weight: 8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B002J6ARK6
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,015 in Grocery & Gourmet Food (See Top 100 in Grocery & Gourmet Food)
  • #58 in Grocery & Gourmet Food > Herbs, Spices & Seasonings > Single Herbs & Spices

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice product, October 12, 2009

By 

James F. Rogers (Laguna Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Piment d'Espelette - Red Chili Pepper Powder from France 1.4oz (Misc.)

This is a great spice, typical of the southern Basque area of France. Slightly spicy/hot, it adds great depth of flavor to any dish where you would think a dried pepper such as paprika might be appropriate. Used to be very hard to find in the US.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good source for this distinctive and unique spice, March 27, 2011

By 

Chambolle (Bainbridge Island, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Piment d'Espelette - Red Chili Pepper Powder from France 1.4oz (Misc.)

Piment d'Espelette is a unique product. It is subject to Appellation d'Origine Controlee regulation, which extends the right to use the AOC label only to ten communes in the Basque country in France. The peppers are grown, harvested, dried and prepared subject to strict regulation and, like wine, cheese and other products subject to the AOC, must display the typical "organoleptic characteristics" of the traditionally produced spice. Piment d'Espelette is never strong or screamingly hot, so if you are expecting something akin to Scotch Bonnet peppers, or the acrid bite of "chili pepper" blends, look elsewhere. However, it does have a sweet and smoky aroma, akin to good pimenton or paprika, along with a distinct peppery 'bite' at the finish.

Piment d'Espelette is never inexpensive and it is usually not easy to find in the US, so having this source available is great. I use it in almost everything -- for example, peel and slice cucumbers, toss with a good quantity of freshly squeezed lemon juice (Meyer lemons preferred), a pinch of sugar, a large pinch of fleur de sel or kosher salt, and a pinch of piment d'Espelette. Let the cukes sit in a colander for up to half an hour, tossing occasionally, then serve. Trust me, you will not fail to notice the presence of the piment. It's also great and sufficiently assertive to dress a good sized composed salad with just a pinch in a basic vinaigrete dressing of lemon juice, white wine vinegar, dijon mustard and grapeseed, walnut or olive oil. Wonderful sprinkled lightly over a platter of carved "rotisserie chicken" from the grocery. Adds a nice edge to rillettes or a terrine. Adds pop to scrambled eggs, quiche... just think of anything you'd like to lend a subtly sweet, smoky and hot red peppery note, and give it a healthy pinch of piment d'Espelette.

Another reviewer reports that he received piment d'Espelette from this source ("Touch of France") that was tasteless. I've not had that experience. I received very fresh piment with the AOC labeling, with aromas and flavors that are perfectly "typique." If you really want to get "fresh," you could go with the whole dried, corded peppers which are also sold subject to the AOC (corded by hand with no fewer than 20 peppers per cord). I like the convenience of the ground piment and recommend this supplier without reservation based on the product I received. The price is about as fair as one can find nowadays, and I bet you can double up on the order for a single shipping charge.

For more about piment d'Espelette generally, you can google piment d'Espelette and you will find the "Site officiel de l'AOC" (alas, for some reason the good folks at Amazon would not allow me to include the URL in this review).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars gourmet chef requested, September 26, 2011

By 

Lorraine Sacino "Bookaholic" (Sarasota, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Piment d'Espelette - Red Chili Pepper Powder from France 1.4oz (Misc.)

Exactly what my son-in-law, who is a gourmet chef as a hobby, requested. It was a birthday gift for him and he was thrilled because he could not find it locally.