Chillies, the bright red pods of the chilli bush, are particularly spicy on the Azienda Brai Loi in south-eastern Sardinia. The Swiss Hans-Peter Meier has been cultivating the rather rare 'Peperoncino fiorentino' variety there for more than 30 years, with a heat level of 6 on the 12-point scale. Harvested when fully ripe and gently dried immediately afterwards, they still have a fresh, intense color. Only whole, hand-picked pods go into the jar, which you can of course also use chopped; if you remove the seeds, the heat is reduced. The chillies season dishes such as chilli con carne or penne all'arrabbiata.

Swiss farmer Hans Peter Meier grows these herbs and spices on the Azienda Brai Loi, a farm on the south-east coast of Sardinia. The effort involved is high: the water for irrigation is pumped from the farm's own Brunnen and the work in the plantations is largely done by hand. The gentle drying process - which immediately follows the harvest - preserves the flavorful ingredients to the greatest possible extent. The result is well worth the effort, as the herbs are incredibly fragrant and therefore extremely productive. What catches the eye is the intense, fresh color and the fact that the herbs always remain recognizable. The reason: Meier sieves them before bottling, which filters out dust-fine, indefinable particles.

Until a few decades ago, the spice trade divided its precious products very diversely according to provenance and trade classes. But today the market is largely dominated by colorful bags with dreary monotony. Not with us: We offer original provenances and the best qualities - in terms of the actual goods, but also in terms of testing, preparation and storage. Behind this are traditional producers, some of whom have been dedicated to their spices for generations, as well as enthusiasts who have only been following their vocation with enthusiasm for a few years. All our spices are gently dried directly after harvesting, which preserves the flavor-bearing ingredients in the best possible way. You notice it in the decisive more in aroma fineness and spice intensity.

Sales description:

Chilies, dried whole pods

Ingredients:

Chilies

Storage and preparation instructions:

Store in a cool and dry place.

Origin / provenance:

Italy

Responsible food company:

Gelsenkirchener Werkstätten für angepaßte Arbeit gGmbH Braukämperstr. 100 45899 Gelsenkirchen Germany