Espelette pepper
- Origin
- France, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
- Scoville Heat Units
- 1 500 - 4 000 SHU
- Flavor
- Fruity
- Color
- Red
- Shape
- Long and tapered
Description
The Espelette pepper is a mildly hot, aromatic chili with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, grown exclusively in and around the Basque village of Espelette in the French Pyrenees. Its long, tapered pods ripen to a deep red and are traditionally strung into decorative dried braids called 'risotras' adorning local houses each autumn. With its fruity, slightly smoky flavor and gentle warmth, it is a cornerstone of Basque cuisine used in piperade, poultry dishes, and as a refined substitute for black pepper.