Product Description
Ashanti or Gorilla pepper is harvested in North Congo and grows in the wild on vines which creep up trees more than 20 metres high. The pepper is picked by the Bayaka people from October to December in the dense forests of Likouala.
Once harvested, the pepper is scalded in boiling water for a few minutes to cleanse and sterilise it and to stabilise its colour.
This pepper grows in clusters of small round berries of about 3 to 4 mm in diameter, which are cardinal red to dark crimson in colour with a bright sheen. Like its cousin, Cubeb pepper (Piper cubeba), it has a small firm straight tail which makes it look like a mini cherry. Inside its pulp is white and milky, surrounded by another fleshy pale green layer.
Be careful not to confuse this wild pepper from Congo with Cubeb pepper or Voatsiperifery pepper. These three tailed peppers all have the same shape, come from the same botanical genus but their species and aromas are different.
The Congolese call it “ndongo bela” in lingala or “black pepper”. It is traditionally used by the Bayaka people for cooking game meat.
Its deliciously fresh scents and delicate aromas release notes of sweet spices, (clove, nutmeg), wrapped in fragrances of pine resin and juniper tar oil. These captivating and heady aromas are topped with hints of peppery mint and turpentine. After it has been aired a while, more fruity notes appear with hints of zesty fresh citrus fruit like lemon grass and kaffir lime.
Once cracked, the scent develops even more with notes of fresh menthol and delicate fragrances of rosemary and burnt sage with scents of Mediterranean heathlands. A few minutes later this delightful little pepper unleashes subtle fragrances of fresh lime and clementine like a warm citrus juice.
On the palate, the attack of this pepper is gentle and supple. It is only slightly spicy and almost fizzy. Then mid-palate, it releases a fresh sensation of menthol.
Usage Suggestions:
This delicately aromatic pepper with initial spicy notes and its mild bite, is perfect either whole or ground in stew type dishes as it withstands long cooking times. Its flavour develops deliciously with olive oil, and its aromas will enhance the flavours of seared or flash fried meat.
Country of Origin:
France
Distributed by:
Socilink Lda
Rua Quinta dos Álamos n.º 3, 2625-577 Vialonga, PORTUGAL
Notice about our product information:
Always confirm the information on the article label. Food products are subject to constant change, for this reason, we recommend that you always read the labeling information that accompanies each product, including the nutritional information, ingredient list, storage, preparation and use instructions as well as other information before use or consumption.
