Welcome My Spicy Friends!
Ever asked yourself how it feels to chase the perfect peppercorn around the globe? Mmmm.. cup of tea then let me share you this amazing story of being a ‘pepperboy’ travelling and sourcing spices and pepper from the best markets and farms all around the world!
My First Spice Adventure: Kerala’s Magic
Where It All Began
You understand that point in your life when something shifts and you become a completely different person? Mine was the time I entered the crowded spice markets of Kerala state in the Republic of India. The aromas! Just the other day I reminiscence at how the first taste of fresh pepper that is been dried in the sun felt like.
Bowling with the Pepper Wizards
It probably goes without saying, so let me introduce you to my mate Joseph, the fifth generation pepper planter or in other words peppercorn’s Gandalf. He once said to me: ‘Every peppercorn has a story’ and boy he said the truth. In fact, his family has been cultivating these little black gems right from his great-great grandfather’s time.
Malaysia’s Pepper Paradise
A Different Kind of Magic
Picture this: Pepper vines growing up young wooden poles those are like elongated grey trees of pepper plants in a row. That is what I was welcomed with in Sarawak, Malaysia. The sayage captures stunning and spectacular moments, so talking about Instagram moments!
White Pepper Wonderland
Well, did you know that white pepper is actually black paper that dresses up for a party? The farmers here maintain this incredible method of steeping and fermenting the peppercorns till the black outer layer comes off. Cool, right?
Vietnam’s Spice Revolution
Young Farmers: New Solutions
Here is Hong – she’s my friend, this is the young farmer who is literally transforming the ways that peppers are cultivated in Vietnam now. Conventional farming and communication applications including the Smartphone. How awesome is that?
Going Green
As you will see these people are making art out of pepper farming. Organic farming, irrigation, and as we saw, they really love their plants. Imagine a pepper spa situated up in the highlands!
The Digital Spice Route
Welcome to Pepper Twitter
Do you recall when merchants used to take months at sea to purchase a simple thing like pepper? Now farmers have started selling their produce through apps and posting on how to grow peppers on social media. We’ve come a long way, folks!
Global Pepper Party
It’s as if now it’s a big global family all of them growing peppers. Farmers in India talk to buyers from Europe through the messaging app WhatsApp, and share photos of the latest crop. Technology is so cool huh?
Mother Nature Getting A New Challenge
Creativity in the Fight for Climate Change
For this week weather issues are becoming interesting, our farmer friends are becoming super creative. You should see the innovative water management solutions they have come up with, water management complex of MacGyver on a farm!
Going Earth-Friendly
But people of each district are trying their best to sustain the pepper farming. If we are able to waste less water, call for more organic techniques and give more love to our earth we will be set. High five to that!
Underlying Fields of Pepper Communities
Festival Fun
I never thought one could have such fun and dance at a pepper harvest fest. Imagine whole villages rejoicing with lovely food,ingenuous music and yes, lots and lots of pepper meals.
Family Traditions
The best part of my journey? Observing those farming families, dining with them, and listening to the legends which the elder people mentioned. Who besides grandma knows the best recipes for pepper?
The New Pepper Generation
Tech savvy traditionalists
Small business owners are not exceptions, a good portion of them still uphold the traditional view although they embrace new technologies in their businesses.
Here’s what gets me excited: as young people going back to their family farms with new thoughts. The women are holding one hand on smartphones and continuously using other hand on traditional farming tools.
Future of Flavor
These kids are bringing funk back into pepper farming.. They are now developing their specialty, tasting tours for peppers and doing all they can to get the world to see how great their products are.
So Let’s Keep This Spicy Adventure Going As Well.
Well folks this is just the icing on the cake and the beginning of my pepper tales! Opportunities are virtually inexhaustible and it is only necessary to name one: there is much more to learn about the world of pepper in addition to such interesting people. Could someone think that those tiny black balls may result diverse incredible adventures?
Just as a casual swirl around the plate will now add some history, culture, and a story of an unknown family some where, each time you use the grinder to add pepper on your food. How cool is that?
Stay spicy, friends! 🌶️
P.S. Do you or somebody you know have any other interesting pepper stories to share? Perhaps you’ve been to some of these destinations? I’d love to hear about it!
