Kampot Pepper
The Product
Kampot Pepper is a unique spice. Its strong aroma, its pungent taste distinguishes this pepper from any others. Tasting Kampot Pepper you'll first experience its pungent effect on the tip of your tongue for a few seconds, then the fresh, almost minty flavour that develops in your mouth and remains for several minutes.
Today, Kampot Pepper is recognized as one of the best peppers in the world; used by major kitchen chefs to accommodate a variety of dishes, ranging from classic black pepper sauce for red meats to chocolate pastries.
Quality Facts (black whole peppercorns)
Density: > 580g/l
Moisture content: 12% vol/wt
FarmLink's Kampot Pepper is cleaned and graded by hand, corn by corn before being stored in air-tight Nylon/PE bags. Our pepper is considered by professionals as the highest grade with rigorous grading and optimum storage conditions that keep the aroma of peppercorns full and fresh.
FarmLink does not treat the peppercorns. FarmLink considers that treatment such as steam sterilization alter the aroma of the pepper, furthermore, we consider irradiation of peppercorns to be potentially dangerous.
Our peppercorns are regularly tested in an internationnal laboratory in order to guarantee that it complies with internationnal food safety regulations.
>> Buy Kampot Pepper
Product Factsheet:
| Area of production: |
Kampot Province |
| Products: |
black whole peppercorns, white whole peppercorns, red whole peppercorns |
| Estimated production: |
30 tones/year |
| Estimated production potential: |
250 tones/year |
| Availability: |
April-June |
| Target market: |
High-class Hotels & Restaurants, Grand Chefs, specialized gourmets shops |
| Remarks: |
High quality spice, product of origin, chemical-free, FarmLink only distributes 1st grade quality. |
The Kampot Pepper Story
The Context
Kampot Pepper is grown in a few districts of Kampot Province and Kep municipality.
Between mountain and
sea Kampot province is
renowned for the quality
of its fruits (Durian,
coconut, mango…), sea
salt and of course pepper.
The special climate and
soil type of Kampot as
well as the experience
from several
generations of pepper
farmers make this
pepper unique and
very sought-for by
gourmets worldwide.
At the beginning of the
20th century, Cambodia
was exporting about
8000 tones of Kampot
Pepper.
In 1960, 1 million
pepper poles
remained in Kampot.
After the events that took place in Cambodia from 1975 to the end of the century, pepper plantation in Kampot were almost completely destroyed. Farmers started to plant pepper again at the beginning of the 21st century when world prices reached sky-high prices. The majority of pepper plantations today are 7 to 10 years old.
FarmLink involvement
In 2006, a group of expatriates witnessed the decline of pepper farms in Kampot. Farmers were destroying or abandoning their plantation because of very low market prices. Pepper Farmers from the Kompong Trach district asked this group to help them find new markets were prices would be more advantageous.
After a year of volunteer work, part of this group created FarmLink, ensuring the continuity of the work through a professional structure.
The "Pure Kampot Pepper" campaign
In 2006, we conducted a promotion campaign to raise Cambodian customers awareness on the specificity of Kampot Pepper and on the risk of fakes in local markets and shops.
Opening the Cambodian market
In 2006, we started to distribute gift bags of pepper for tourist market in Cambodia; we also started to supply some hotels, restaurants and butcheries in Cambodia. Finally, we expanded our distribution network in Cambodia through partnerships with businesses in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Kampot.
Improving the quality
During the first year, our work with the farmers was focused on improving the quality of the pepper through improved processing techniques.
In 2007, pepper was well dried, graded and cleaned. The quality was much improved and major distributors started to show interest in Kampot Pepper.
In 2008, FarmLink produced the highest grade of peppercorns recognized by professionals as the best peppercorns in the world.
Organizing the pepper farmers
Kompong Trach farmers are small-scale farmers with an average of 200 poles per farm. Farmers' organization was necessary to guarantee an interesting volume of supply and an effective quality control mechanism.
In July 2007,
3 farmers' associations were created after democratic elections. These associations regroup today more than 110 farmers.
Solving structural problems
Due to the lack of finances, farmers are not able to solve themselves the many problems they face to restructure their farms. Lack of water access is a major issue as well as fertilizers, wooden poles replacement...
FarmLink is looking for financial solutions for these farmers through a combination of micro-credits and donations. In 2007, 5 water ponds were dug thanks to a private donation. In 2008, 25 more ponds were created. FarmLink is still looking today for partners that could further help the farmers' associations.
>>Read more about the Kampot Pepper projects
Developing the export market
In 2007, FamLink contacted specialized importers and distributors in different countries. Many shown great interest and we expect to export the majority of the 2008 harvest. We currenly export Kampot Pepper to Europe. Do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to purchase Kampot Pepper or wonder if this product is available in your country.
|
