Espelette pepper is the emblematic chilli of the Basque Country, grown exclusively in and around the village of Espelette at the foot of the Basque mountains in south-western France. It holds Protected Designation of Origin status, meaning every stage of production — from cultivation to drying — must comply with strict regional specifications. The pepper itself was originally brought to the Basque Country from South America by Christopher Columbus in the 16th century and has been central to the local cuisine ever since. This purée takes the dried pepper and blends it with vinegar and salt to create a smooth, versatile paste with a warm, smoky depth and a gentle but persistent heat.

The purée format makes Espelette exceptionally easy to use. It works as a marinade for meat, poultry, and fish, stirred directly into sauces, soups, and stews, or spread as a condiment alongside cheese, charcuterie, and eggs. Its smoky warmth sits comfortably with Basque and broader south-western French cooking — piperade, grilled lamb, seafood — but is equally at home in everyday dishes where a flavourful background heat is welcome without the intensity of hotter chillies.

Producer: Terre Exotique, a French spice house founded in 1998 after its founder discovered Penja pepper on a plantation in Cameroon. The company sources directly from growers worldwide and processes at its facility in France, maintaining close relationships with producers to ensure traceability and quality across its range.

Storage: Ambient. Store in a cool, dry place. Refrigerate after opening.

Net: 90g