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The longer we spend in a foreign country, the more memories we gather and the closer they become to our hearts. To continuously remind ourselves of the moments we experienced on our travels even after returning home, it is good to bring back several souvenirs from those places and take a small piece of the foreign land with us. If you want to remember Cambodia this way, we have a few tips for small items you can bring from the country that won’t just lie around on your shelf at home. Krama Krama is something you will encounter at every step in Cambodia. It is a multifunctional scarf that is one of the national symbols of the country. The krama has countless uses. Besides being a scarf, it is used for carrying children, covering the face, as a hammock for babies, as a mosquito net, to ward off insects, and for many other purposes. Traditional krama colors include red and white, but you can find a whole colorful palette of various designs. You can buy a krama on every corner, but choose those with higher weight and durability so the scarf lasts you as long as possible. Even here at home, you can wear it with love and definitely won’t look like an exotic person. :-) Upcycled Items Cambodia certainly does not belong to countries with a high standard of living, quite the opposite. The local inhabitants are mostly poorer and therefore look for various ways to make a living. One of these is the production of various items from waste. This activity reflects extraordinary Khmer craftsmanship, where artisans can create something beautiful even from what looks like utterly worthless waste at first glance. Most often these are decorative items, but you can also find everyday necessities such as wallets, dishes, clothing, and more. Tattoos If you want a truly permanent souvenir from Cambodia, get a traditional Khmer tattoo. These tattoos have deep symbolism and are done during a ceremony that imbues the tattoo with magical properties. Khmer tattoos are not just decoration; they have protective symbolism and become an integral part of you. David and Klárka both have their Khmer tattoos, and we jokingly—and maybe not so jokingly—like to say that they protect the entire .pepper..field. :-) Last but not least, bring back a few Kampot peppercorns from Cambodia for good luck. And if your suitcase is already full, don’t despair. Just visit our website and enjoy a proper piece of authentic Cambodia in your kitchen right away in several forms.

Sometimes people embark on projects that they initially consider just an experiment and don't have too many expectations from. This is exactly how the story of our freeze-dried pepper started, which became one of the best gastronomic delicacies in the world. You no longer have to go all the way to Cambodia for fresh pepper Its story began at the moment when we were pondering how to offer customers the taste of fresh peppercorns. The taste of fresh green berries is significantly different from that of subsequently dried grains. How to do it? If we had simply harvested, packed, and shipped fresh peppercorns to Europe, they would have arrived from Asia in a condition definitely unsuitable for consumption. Kampot pepper is an organic product that has no protective layer of pesticides. Therefore, it was first necessary to come up with a way to preserve the peppercorns and prepare them for the long journey. Our helper in this task was a special brine made from fleur de sel. We designed its recipe so that it could maintain the freshness of the fruits during their long journey while significantly not altering the unique taste, which was the alpha and omega of the entire project. On the contrary – to enhance this taste! He came, he saw, he was fresh, and he conquered The next task came when we opened the fresh, marinated pepper from Cambodia at home. We had to think about how to get it to customers in the freshest possible form. Leaving the fruits in the brine was one solution, but it did not meet our requirements for shelf life and quality. So what next? The answer appeared essentially by itself when Lukáš, one of our co-founders, started talking during the For Gastro fair with Lukáš Zach from Zach's pesto & chilli. Lukáš already had extensive experience with so-called lyophilization, which, according to him, could be the solution. And he was right! After numerous attempts to freeze-dry the peppercorns, we finally succeeded in creating a unique product and a world rarity that won the Golden Fork award for its taste, the equivalent of an Oscar in the world of gastronomy.  Discover its unique, natural taste yourself.

Most of us use classic kitchen salt our entire lives. However, have you ever wondered if there is a healthier or tastier alternative? There are actually several types of salt, differing in quality and taste. And we'll reveal right away that classic kitchen salt may not be the best choice. Kitchen Salt Common salt is extracted chemically, bleached (refined), and in some areas lacking access to the sea, it is also iodized. Kitchen salt is essentially just sodium chloride, which in larger amounts is unhealthy for our bodies. Therefore, we should use kitchen salt very carefully. Have you heard the term „too salty“? Because that is exactly what kitchen salt is. Excessive intake of such salt destroys taste buds and reduces sensitivity to salty flavors. The vicious circle then ends with further unnecessary over-salting. Although salt is necessary and very important for the human body, its excessive intake can cause problems with the cardiovascular system and damage kidney function. Even though this recommendation applies to any salt, it is likely that this intolerance occurs especially with this ordinary kitchen salt. Himalayan Salt In some Czech kitchens, so-called Himalayan salt also appears, which actually does not come from the Himalayas at all. It is mined in Pakistan, in the world's second-largest salt mine, from which 300 million kilograms of salt are extracted annually. The salt is known for its characteristic pink color, caused by the presence of iron in the salt. Unfortunately, salt mining significantly disrupts the environment of the entire area, and the iron present in the salt is in a truly negligible amount, so from a health perspective, this salt cannot perform great miracles. Salt Flower If you are looking for truly pure, natural, unrefined salt whose harvesting leaves no trace in nature, salt flower, or Fleur de Sel, is the clear choice for you. This type of salt is obtained by crystallizing seawater that is dried by the sun’s rays. On the surface of so-called sea salt pans, fine crystalline flakes form, which are hand-collected and then neither bleached nor chemically treated. Thanks to this, this rare sea salt has a unique taste, and you can enjoy it without any guilt. What makes salt flower so rare? Especially the demanding nature of its harvesting. It is entirely dependent on unique climatic conditions, good weather, and careful handling. Fine flakes do not form if it rains or if there is strong wind. Sea salt pans also require an ideal combination of air humidity and sunshine. Our salt flower from Kampot is harvested in the coastal areas of this province, where the techniques of its cultivation and collection have remained unchanged for centuries. Local farmers wait with long rakes for the right moment when they can gather the salt flower from the surface and immediately pack and send it to you so you can enjoy the uniqueness of this natural gift from the sea. 

Salt and pepper are the basics of every kitchen, we would find them in every restaurant and just to be sure, we have them on every dining table. Why have these two ingredients captured the hearts of Europeans as well as the inhabitants of the North American continent? And what makes them get along so well? The reason why salt and pepper have earned a firm place on our tables is their ability to enhance the flavor of the served dish. While salt can highlight the taste of proteins above all, pepper, on the other hand, adds its characteristic aroma where it would otherwise be missing. Just potatoes, nothing more We must realize that in the past, it was often the only way to add at least some emotion to food. Our ancestors did not always have so many ingredients and so many options for interesting seasoning. Often, the main ingredient on their plate was just potatoes and vegetables. Meat was a rarity, as were more exotic spices. That is why pepper and salt were the best way to season plain potatoes or root vegetables. Interestingly, if we look at other parts of the world, pepper and salt do not play such a prominent role. In Asia, their place is taken by fish sauce or crushed red chili. In Mexico, it is lime, salsa, and coriander, and in Ethiopia, for example, it is awaze paste, whose base is chili. Rarity However, let us not think that salt and pepper were readily available seasonings in every tavern already in the Middle Ages. At that time, salt was more available, but it was not used for seasoning but mainly for its preservative properties. Large quantities of meat and fish were salted, which allowed these ingredients to survive long journeys across oceans. It was sailors who eventually began to import pepper from afar, which was originally a commodity for the elite. Its wider popularization happened only in the 18th and especially the 19th century, when the combination of pepper and salt began to appear on tables more and more frequently. The right choice for our grinders We preserve the tradition to this day, and that is why pepper and salt are the most used combination of spices and seasonings in the kitchen. And now we know that when both ingredients are of high quality, it is enough to make the dish simply divine! With our Kampot pepper you will always season flawlessly, and with coarse sea salt from Kampot suitable for grinders you will perfectly flavor anything you are currently preparing. Various colorful grinders will help you decide which one to assign to which ingredient!

Spices are an indispensable part of every kitchen. However, while with yogurts, lemons, or chocolate we consider where they actually come from, with spices most chefs don’t really care that much. Unfortunately, it is precisely in the case of spice growers that frequent exploitation and also destruction of nature occur. By the way, the entire idea of .pepper..field is based on changing this issue in the case of Kampot farmers. Why do the smallest and at the same time the best farms have such bad luck? Fortunately, there are many organizations and smaller companies worldwide that build on similar values as we do at .pepper..field and try to help producers from all over the world. This help consists of overseeing better working conditions, fair wages, and also environmentally friendly approaches during production. While there are many growers, the companies that buy their products are significantly fewer. Because of this, these companies can dictate the conditions under which they buy the cultivated product. These conditions are often unfavorable for farmers, exploit them, and they are forced to use pesticides and other chemical preparations to maximize yield. Moreover, many of these farmers are from remote areas, which makes it impossible for them to enter the market without traders, who do not come to these areas very often. Simply put, they have the hardest possible position in trading. These prices constantly fluctuate due to unstable weather and also the political situation in the countries where the farmers live. Additionally, these farmers live in poor conditions their entire lives and therefore do not have the strong will to escape them. Are fair prices per kilo paid in Kampot? That is why various organizations often set minimum purchase prices necessary to cover production costs and also ensure a decent life for farmers. Such an association in the case of Kampot pepper is KPPA – Kampot Pepper Promotion Association – which annually sets the official fair price per kilo of individual peppers, which it recommends to follow. Unfortunately, this is still only a recommendation that companies may or may not follow. Guess what – in the Kampot area, none of the local producers – neither small nor large farms like La Plantation – adhered to this official price per kilo and did not pay farmers that price. Why? And why yes, when their motivation was only commerce? Of course, it is extremely financially demanding to pay farmers up to ten times more than others. But if you have the right motivation like we do at  .pepper..field, not only can you manage it, but maybe in time you will also force large farms to reconsider why until now they have not paid a fair price per kilo? If a smaller company like ours can manage these finances, what excuse would large farms and producers have to find? These are simply things we still shake our heads about. At the same time, it is a completely healthy, fair, and responsible foundation that we have committed to always uphold!

Salt flower from Kampot is a small white treasure that blooms thanks to the sun's rays and wind on the surface of salt pans, from which it is hand-harvested. Because of this, it achieves a different taste and texture than, for example, sea salt. It also brings a completely unique flavor component to dishes. It will find its place in the kitchen, but it is specific Salt contains up to 10% moisture, which causes it to lose its crystalline structure more slowly than ordinary salts. This allows it to maintain its crunchy structure for a longer time, which means only one thing. Salt flower is ideal primarily for seasoning dishes and is therefore not suitable for use directly during cooking. A great choice is when seasoning seafood, but also vegetables, and meat lovers will definitely appreciate it. There is nothing better than a steak on which you can taste the flavor of coarsely ground Kampot pepper combined with the sharp texture of the salt. Salt flower is simply a great helper in the kitchen and when grilling. It adds the necessary finishing touch to vegetables and meat with grill marks, emphasizing the characteristic taste of the individual ingredients. Salt flower is not just a name, but also a flavor characteristic Salt flower is also popular among confectioners. Salt flower has a slightly sweet aftertaste, which makes it a great complement to sweet desserts. Who doesn’t know caramel cups sprinkled with salt crystals on their surface? These are also placed on macarons, becoming part of chocolate. Somewhat surprisingly, salt flower can also be found in bartenders’ equipment. Salt flower is used as a decoration for the rims of some cocktail glasses. For example, it can add a completely new flavor element to a margarita, giving this drink the right sharpness. Salt flower is not ordinary salt. It is an ingredient that literally invites playfulness, at the end of which is a perfectly looking and even better tasting dish that everyone will admire. So carve out a place for this salt in your culinary art and you will see that it will reward you with a unique flavor that will transport you to the sea waves under the burning sun of Kampot! P.S.: Did you know that we also use real salt flower in our  fresh peppers? You can taste it on the  freeze-dried Kampot pepper,  fermented, but also  fresh green pepper in salt brine.

The air is permeated with the scent of the sea, and underfoot, a layer of salt crust crunches. We are at the salt pans, where in the heat of the sun's rays, thousands of snow-white salt flowers bloom on the surface of small natural pools. These bloom only in a few places in the world, where they are traditionally harvested and exported all the way to your table, so that with a piece of the sea or ocean, they enrich the dish you are preparing. How does true salt flower form?  By precipitating salt from seawater through the action of the sun's rays, which evaporate the water, small crystals form on its surface. For this purpose, small natural pools are built at the salt pans, where water is pumped from the nearby ocean or sea. The sun shines on these pools all day, and the wind plays with their surface.  The salt pans are interwoven with a system of dams and channels, through which the water level in the reservoirs is regulated, and by gravity, the water gradually reaches special salt basins, which are like a bed where the salt flower begins to bloom. At the moment when sparkling salt flakes begin to appear on the surface of the reservoir, it is the right time to harvest them. This should be done by hand, using wooden rakes, with which the salt is gently collected from the surface of the basin. The harvested flower is not further processed, rinsed, or chemically bleached.  It is packed and shipped exactly as it grew Unrefined. Untreated. And with its authentic appearance and color. Only in this way is the unmistakable taste of salt flower guaranteed, which is not just salty but contains a whole range of flavors, scents, and tastes of the sea. Here in the Czech Republic, we pack it into reusable zip bags or Czech glass jars, which are custom-made for us by a Czech glassworks. Unfortunately, on the market, there are also salt flowers that lack all these benefits. These are artificially created salt flakes, crystallized by artificial drying, then rinsed, bleached, and presented as original, but they will disappoint you with their taste.  True salt flowers are rare Look for those produced in the regions of Portugal's Algarve, France's Normandy, the Canary Islands, or Mallorca. Outside Europe, true salt flower is also obtained in some areas of Canada, Mexico, and Brazil, and of course, we must not forget the long tradition of salt flower harvesting in Cambodia's Kampot. You can buy our Kampot salt flower, which we purchase from a community of families who adhere to all ecological and ethical principles. Moreover, you know that you are not only seasoning tastefully but also well and responsibly.

On one hand, pepper is nicknamed black gold, on the other hand, turmeric is also known as golden spice. Although it might seem that apart from their origin, these two spices have not much in common, in the East they form a powerful combination used both in cuisine and in medicine. A powerful healer with a problem There are several reasons. Like pepper, turmeric also has significant healing effects, thanks to a substance called curcumin, which acts as a strong antioxidant in the body, has anti-inflammatory effects, and destroys fungi. It is also known for its antibacterial properties, which allow it to be used both internally and externally, for example by applying it to various wounds. The problem with curcumin is that the human body cannot absorb it into the bloodstream as well as it could, and it excretes a significant part of it. Here we come to another substance called piperine. From the name, you probably guess that it is contained in pepper. Piperine is one of the reasons why pepper also brings many beneficial effects to our body. However, it has one more excellent property. When piperine meets curcumin Piperine is essentially a kind of ticket for curcumin to enter our bloodstream. According to some studies, it can amplify the effect of curcumin on our body by up to 2,000 percent. This means a much stronger effect of curcumin and a much more positive impact on our physical body. Experts have not yet agreed on what exactly causes this mutual symbiosis of the two substances. While some believe that piperine facilitates the passage of curcumin through the intestinal wall directly into the bloodstream, others lean more towards piperine's ability to slow down the breakdown of curcumin in the liver, which allows more of it to remain in the liver. Whatever the truth may be, it does not change the fact that consuming pepper and turmeric can help in treating various inflammatory conditions in your body or prevent their onset, care preventively for the digestive tract, and also treat arthritic conditions. Some studies even speak about prevention and treatment of cancer. However, always remember that in the case of any ailments, you should primarily consult your doctor and not rely solely on the power of natural substances.

We decided to start importing Kampot pepper to Europe to help local farmers and to show the world the unique taste of this pepper. At the very beginning, however, we never imagined that one day we would be inventing our own product with the president of the local KPPA association, in which we combined the best of Kampot. Fermented Kampot pepper in sea salt crystals Everyone knows the taste of classic dried peppercorns here, but very few know how freshly picked green pepper from the vine,  fermented using an old traditional Japanese method, tastes. More precisely, within the wide community of our farmers, this secret is known only to the KPPA president, whose family has preserved the recipe for centuries. Thanks to his high-quality grains from the farm, the careful work of his family, and precise vacuum sealing directly in Cambodia, a unique  fermented Kampot pepper: President Edition was created – additionally with a new certification – organic. The secret of its freshness lies in the salt added to the fresh peppercorns. To keep the flavor as authentic as possible, our fermented pepper is preserved using sea salt crystals, also collected in Kampot. The fresh pepper of organic quality is mixed with salt immediately after picking, ferments, and is vacuum sealed right away in Cambodia. Delicate yet still intense experience Thanks to this, we managed to create a product that contains the characteristic aroma of pepper accompanied by citrus and floral notes. The initially mild taste develops on the tongue into a spicy fireworks display, transporting you thousands of kilometers away to the home of Kampot pepper, among local farmers, elephants, and sunshine. Don’t worry, fermentation also makes this pepper much milder and more delicious, so you can nibble on it just like that or confidently sprinkle it on your morning omelet. You can use this little fermented delight in your kitchen with no limits to your imagination. Combine it with dark meat, enhance light meats with it, and also fish. Don’t hesitate to try it in pasta dishes or prepare a delicate pesto from it. And it definitely won’t disappoint in sauces or curries. We won’t be wrong to say that you can enhance any dish with fermented pepper, including sweet steamed dumplings with plum and poppy seeds – yes, we tried this experiment and were amazed.

Do you love pickled olives or capers? Or do you enjoy the classic pickled delights like Znojmo pickles or peppers? How about kimchi and other treats soaking in brine? Are your mouth watering yet? If you are a fan of such delicacies, be sure to stop by our e-shop and add fresh green pepper in salty brine to your cart. We have truly perfected it! Authentic Cambodia in one bite Green pickled pepper is exactly what you imagine when you hear this phrase. Fresh green berries just harvested from the pepper vine are immersed in a salty brine, which beautifully preserves them and allows us to deliver their authentic Cambodian flavor right to your European table. This is a completely new taste experience that every soft peppercorn grain brings. When you bite into it, the taste of salty brine literally bursts in your mouth, gradually complemented by the characteristic flavor of fresh Kampot pepper. It contains those familiar pepper nuances that you won’t find in regular dried peppers.  How to best use it? If you’re looking at pickled pepper and wondering what to do with it, rest assured that the possibilities are endless. Try preparing the iconic pepper sauce with it, for example. Pickled pepper really boosts the flavor of meat, whether light, dark, or fish. But meat is just the beginning. Try adding it to sauces, experiment with it in risotto, and don’t hesitate to toss a few berries into your favorite pasta, on bread, basically anywhere. Like other pickled delicacies, it’s great with cold cuts and assorted platters overall. However, it certainly won’t offend if you snack on it just like that, maybe in the evening while watching TV, accompanied by a glass of white wine. There are simply no limits to your imagination, and pickled green Kampot pepper literally calls for experiments. For example, we already sprinkle it on absolutely everything!

An absolute world unique – this is freeze-dried fresh Kampot pepper with sea salt flower. The special lyophilization process ensures that the food treated in this way retains maximum freshness, quality, and very intense flavor accents. In the case of Kampot pepper flavored with sea salt flower, this process means a real flavor explosion – which was noticed this year even by the strict jury of the Guild of Fine Food, which meets in London at the prestigious Great Taste Awards and awarded it three stars. Kampot freeze-dried pepper thus joined the 1.5% of foods awarded in this way. A food that nobody else in the world has For 27 years, the jury has been appreciating the best foods in the world. Every year they receive their "film Oscar." More than 500 jurors evaluate all the products entered into the competition over two months. Each of them is carefully tasted blind by top chefs, buyers, sellers, restaurateurs, or food critics. Among the global competition, historically only two Czech foods have found a place for three stars. Now, among them, as another golden winner, is the freeze-dried green Kampot pepper, which we import to the Czech Republic as a 100% organic fair trade product. The jurors in the Great Taste Awards competition look for truly excellent taste regardless of brand or packaging. With freeze-dried pepper, they can find more than that. "At the beginning, there was a desire to bring truly fresh pepper to Europe. Its delicate taste, when the green pepper is still picked from the pepper vine," describes Lukáš Hejtmánek, one of our founders, who was significantly involved in the development of freeze-dried pepper from the start. Lyophilization or freeze drying Lyophilization is a process during which the peppercorns are deeply dried using freezing, and thanks to it, the pepper retains its maximum authentic flavor, which is incomparable to any other types of pepper in the world. "When you treat pepper this way, you just need to soak it at home in oil or any liquid, and the pellet will absorb moisture again and return to the same form it was just before being picked," explains Lukáš. All the interesting details about the lyophilization process and recommendations on how to work with our pepper in the kitchen can be found in our article where the idea of freeze-dried Kampot pepper was born. Three stars mean in the Great Taste Awards jargon one simple word: excellent. It is an award for an extraordinarily tasty food, which less than 2% of the products entered worldwide receive each year. The award itself invites you not to leave the store without buying such a food. With us, you can also be sure that you are shopping as sustainably as possible and supporting a good cause.  A gastronomic unique with heart in the right place When we started our .pepper..field project in 2018, the Czech Development Agency joined us. As part of the development program in Cambodia, which aims to improve the economic situation of small farmers, it also helped us develop freeze-dried pepper thanks to the purchase of Czech freeze-dryers LYOTRADE, on which it is dried. This way, the customer receives real authentic Cambodia at home, and in return, they can be sure that they are helping specific people live a quality life in other parts of the world. Chefs also like to cook with freeze-dried pepper Our freeze-dried pepper has become popular in renowned Czech restaurants. For example, Casa de Carli in Prague now cooks its menu incorporating it! We can also find it in the menu in London, where it was used during a three-star dinner at the famous Copper & Ink restaurant by MasterChef finalist and one of the judges of the competition, Tony Rodd. As the name of the dinner suggests, the dishes were made from star-awarded foods of this year. We can’t wait to share some of these recipes. It is an indescribable feeling to be counted among the top world foods such as the best cheeses, virgin olive oils, or delicacies like oysters. It is an honor for us, and we are sure that fresh freeze-dried Kampot pepper definitely belongs among them. 

January to May means the most demanding part of the year for farmers. This is the time of harvest and careful observation of the stalks on which clusters of pepper berries sway. The moment these stalks begin to yellow, the pepper vine clearly signals that the right time for picking has come. Harvesting during this period takes place continuously And it is up to the farmers whether they harvest whole clusters of still green unripe pepper, or select individual already ripe berries. At the same time, they can also wait for the berries to fully ripen and pick them at the moment they are fully red, or harvest all the pepper from the vine and then subsequently select the red berries from the green ones. This decision influences the flavor profile of the berries and the resulting color, thanks to which the offer includes  black, red, and white pepper. However, you will not see white berries on the vines. These are obtained by soaking red pepper in boiling water (approximately 5 minutes) and then in cold water (maximum 48 hours). Subsequently, the skin is removed revealing the creamy white core. The processing of red and white pepper is thus the most demanding, the longest, and therefore these two colors are the absolute pride of Cambodia – few countries in the world can patiently pick berry by berry and further process them like this! Cleanliness is also important The subsequent work with the obtained grains follows a whole range of principles that primarily comply with hygienic rules. Both the containers used for storing pepper and the farmers' hands must be clean. The grains themselves can only be dried on three types of materials: nylon, classic natural mats, and canvas. During drying, no domestic animals have access to the grains. At the moment when the grains are sufficiently dried in the sun, manual sorting takes place. This serves to remove all impurities that were collected from the vine along with the pepper grains as well as to select the grains themselves. After sorting, the grains are stored in a well-ventilated place, without exposure to sunlight, and so that no pests can reach them.  Subsequently, the pepper grains can look forward to their packaging, but more about that next time. 

Sometimes it seems to us that we already know everything about pepper, but then we discover another novelty that will knock us off our chairs. Recently, black pepper oil enchanted us in this way. It might seem that it is just another cooking oil. However, do not be mistaken, black pepper oil is a rare and powerful medicine that delivers the best of the potent black pepper into your body. And the better the quality of the pepper, the stronger its power, of course. All the benefits of quality pepper concentrated in a single drop Although black pepper is one of the most well-known spices, the oil that can be extracted from it is not so widespread. As expected, its aroma is sharp like pepper and also warming. By consuming it, you support the nervous system as well as the digestive system. It can be used both internally and externally, helping the body to get rid of a whole range of ailments. Black pepper oil can provide relief from cramps and muscle fatigue. The substances it contains improve blood circulation and warm the muscles, thus better alleviating painful conditions. In this case, it is obviously ideal to regularly apply the oil to the affected area and, if the pain allows, ideally to massage it in. For the body and the stomach By using pepper oil externally, you can also more quickly get rid of arthritis and rheumatism. This is again aided by increased blood flow to the affected areas where the oil is applied. The oil is also capable of expelling toxins from the body, such as uric acid, which is one of the triggers of joint pain. For this reason, pepper oil can also be tried by patients suffering from gout. If you consume black pepper oil, you primarily benefit your digestive system. Pepper oil helps stimulate the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Your food will digest better, and you will avoid digestive difficulties. It is also a much gentler alternative to spices like chili. You can also use the oil when suffering from sinus inflammation or a stuffy nose. It can dissolve mucus and thus provide much-needed immediate relief. An alternative for smokers Need to quit smoking? Black pepper oil can remove the craving for cigarettes. It also reduces tension and anxiety, so it can help during the first nervous days of quitting this bad habit. Can you make it at home? Unfortunately, true essential black pepper oil can only be obtained by steam distillation. So unless you have a small chemical laboratory, you probably won’t succeed – but it is definitely not impossible. The process involves filtering peppercorns under high steam pressure until the essential oils separate from the floral water. For home preparation, it is suitable to crush or add a few peppercorns of black Kampot pepper into another quality vegetable oil. You will see what a gourmet delight such flavored oil can create, for example, in a salad!

Basically, from the moment the pepper seedling is planted, there is a series of rules regarding the cultivation of pepper vines that farmers growing pepper in the Kampot province are required to follow. As we already know from previous posts on our blog, strict rules must be observed during harvesting, subsequent sorting, and also storage of peppercorns. And their Package is no exception in this regard. All of this is summarized in the Book Of Specifications – an official document that defines all the parameters this black treasure must meet before export from Cambodia. The right Package ensures the preservation of all the properties of pepper Therefore, the grains are packed into food-approved packaging that does not react with the peppercorns, preserves their taste and aroma, and protects them from moisture, pests, and other external influences that could reduce the quality of the pepper. For this reason, we were the very first to provide small farming families in the Kampot area with 10 vacuum machines, with the support of the Czech Development Agency, which can process all the pepper from farmers immediately after harvest. On our machines, we vacuum pack all the pepper in 1kg Package portions that we purchase from micro-farming families. This immediately guarantees freshness and quality, which is delivered in the same form to us in the Czech Republic. Here, this vacuum-packed Package undergoes a secondary inspection on a machine with optical mechanics – "just in case the farmer’s hands forgot, for example, an ant in the package." :-) For further Package sent to your home, we use local sources and packaging from Czech printing houses or glassworks. To make it absolutely clear what is inside the packaging and who is the producer of the content, each Package is equipped with a batch number (lot number) and expiration date.  However, whether the Kampot pepper retains all its properties also depends on you, the consumer yourself. Black, white, and red pepper are suitable for consumption up to three years from the date of harvest. In the case of ground black pepper, it can be used throughout the following year. We recommend consuming it as soon as possible. For our freeze-dried pepper, it is best consumed within a few months, as it partially retains the properties of fresh pepper and is therefore more sensitive. Enjoy your meal and store your pepper with love!

The Kampot pepper plantations hide a whole range of rarities, but the greatest of them are the crimson red peppercorns, which belong to the most luxurious types of pepper. The reason is simple. Truly perfect peppercorns that manage to ripen to a dark red color are just a handful – and literally so. These are  the ripest peppercorns in the Kampot region, which during their growth were able to attract the greatest amount of sunlight. Thanks to this, they boast the most concentrated fructose content of all peppers and thus can offer a truly unique taste and aroma. Camphor, cedar, and apricot When ground, the peppercorns release an aroma with notes of blood oranges, cranberries, elderberries, but also the characteristic scents of camphor, cedar, and lemon balm, which are based on orange peel with a subtle hint of tobacco leaves. After a few minutes, the scent of the heart of the dark red pepper begins to emerge, reminiscent of leavened dough, new spices combined with roasted malt. It is a very rich aroma that then transitions into Assam black tea and finishes again with notes of cedar. Pepper with an umami taste Although you might expect the dark red peppercorn to unleash an inferno in your mouth, the opposite is true. It is an aromatic experience accompanied by a sweet taste caused by the abundant fructose content. The sweet tones fade after a while, giving way to bread-like notes, followed by a subtle taste of dried tomatoes, dried meat, and a flavor known as umami. The dark red pepper is an extremely complex thread of Kampot nature that you should definitely try. Thanks to it, you will discover that the world of pepper flavors is a world that can continuously surprise.

How exciting the combination of pepper and sweet desserts can be can be read not only in one of our articles, but you can also easily convince your own taste buds. But how about trying an unconventional combination of Kampot pepper with a traditional product in the form of homemade honey? Pepper and honey have beneficial effects on human health A precious treasure from the hive, just like pepper, helps with digestive disorders, heals mucous membranes, stimulates intestinal activity, and helps to calm down. It has beneficial effects on calming the mind and also acts antibacterial and as a quick disinfectant. In short, it has many similar effects as pepper. However, it is good to use both when you feel, as the saying goes, that something is coming on you. Just take honey, add preferably red Kampot pepper and then flavor your tea or milk with this delicacy. The resulting mixture can also be used in the kitchen A steak marinated in a sauce with added pepper honey gets an unprecedented flavor – and the same applies to a salad, for which you can prepare a tasty dressing from the golden treasure with crushed pieces of pepper. However, keep in mind that such quality pepper as ours from the Kampot region needs to be combined with quality honey. Do not look for good pepper or quality honey in the usual supermarket. Just as we look for the best peppercorns directly from Kampot farmers for you, you should also make an effort and find a local honey producer and buy honey directly from them. The quality of their honey will most likely far exceed the quality of honey available in a regular store. Moreover, you will support the local economy and the person who produces honey with pure love, often without the prospect of large profits.

Most of us perceive pepper as a spice that perfectly flavors every dish, but pepper can also be used in other ways. It has been shown that it is an excellent ant repellent and can also keep the colors of your laundry in perfect condition for a long time. Below you will find 4 unconventional ways to use pepper. 1. Protection Against Pests Almost every gardener knows how unpleasant it is to see a harvest devastated by pests such as aphids or other creatures. Some solve this problem with chemical sprays, which, however, partially get into the crops themselves. However, it is enough to prepare a strong infusion of cinnamon and pepper and treat the plants with the resulting solution. This will deter many pests and your harvest will be perfectly protected. 2. Special Ant Repellent Pepper can also be an effective protector of your home and pantry against perpetually hungry ants. Around the area that should be off-limits to ants, simply place grains of white or black pepper. They create an impenetrable barrier that convinces diligent ants to try their luck elsewhere. 3. Product Against Laundry Fading But it’s not only plants or food that pepper can protect brilliantly. If you like colorful fashion and it annoys you that the vibrancy of colors fades with every wash, try another pepper trick. Before washing, add a teaspoon of peppercorns to the laundry, which have the ability to keep the color in place. 4. “Treat ” for Uninvited Guests at the Bird Feeder During winter, many of us feed birds with grains. From time to time, a squirrel might visit the feeder, but it doesn’t leave a single grain for the birds. As you probably guess, if you add a bit of pepper to the mix, the squirrel will quickly reconsider where to hold its feasts. Birds pick through the grains and eat those they like. However, squirrels like to stuff everything quickly into their cheek pouches, unaware of the exotic surprise hidden inside them. And since squirrels are not big fans of pepper, they quickly learn that the contents of your feeder are not attractive to them.

Although the current situation in our country – and similarly nowhere else in the world – favors travel very little, hard times will pass and we will once again be able to enjoy freedoms and trips to all corners of the world. However, post-coronavirus travel could be somewhat different, with a much greater emphasis on sustainability and authenticity. The coronavirus has shown us the fragility of the foundations on which our society stands and the negatives of globalization What was just some kind of plague raging in China a year ago is today a problem limiting the life of each of us. Society, which was running at full speed, almost froze overnight; people realized how fragile the mechanisms are that allow most people to live in such prosperity. Moreover, it has become clear how much this slowdown benefits our planet. Reduced transportation and production brought more calm and regeneration of ecosystems, air emissions decreased, and a smaller number of tourists—for example, the canals of Italian Venice—restored life in the form of fish and water birds. And these are precisely the coronavirus impacts that will help us open our eyes and change our approach to a whole range of things, including travel. Flying for a weekend vacation just because the ticket is discounted to 300 crowns? An attractive offer, but one that leaves a significant carbon footprint behind and means you basically won't get to know the destination at all within two days. Travel with the motivation to truly get to know the culture of the country and you can even save money A much better and more responsible solution is less frequent but longer vacations. During them, you will have the chance to properly get to know the place – meet the local culture, taste all the food, enjoy beautiful natural landmarks, make new friendships, and even support the local economy. However, we will never achieve this if we travel to purely tourist destinations and stay in five-star hotels of multinational developers, which are completely detached from the reality behind the walls of the resorts. You will experience the authenticity of a place only when you stay with locals. They will open the door to their community for you; through them, you will see what family life looks like here, what customs the locals have, and which places they like to visit. In short, thanks to them you will get to know much more than just tourist attractions. And this is exactly what you can experience, for example, in beloved Cambodia.

Vacationing in Asia has become a small phenomenon in recent years, beginning to even threaten Croatia, which is so beloved by all Czechs. However, flying on vacation to Asia is not just any trip. This continent offers a whole range of interesting countries, countless amazing places, and an endless number of activities that can be undertaken here. Do you want an authentic experience without tourist crowds? Try Cambodia Vietnam, Thailand, Bali — these are all notoriously well-known destinations where you can try surfing, meet many interesting people from all over the world, eat well and cheaply, and relax wonderfully. And then there is Cambodia, a magical land full of eternally smiling people, which is one of the last true fragments of the Far East. You can’t surf here, but everything else is several times more interesting. You will find plenty of opportunities to stay with locals, the level of tourism is kept within tolerable limits, and Cambodia still avoids hustle and chaos completely. Thanks to this, this little paradise on Earth can offer something that the aforementioned countries simply lack. It is authenticity, thanks to which you will be able to get to know this country in all its facets. Don’t be afraid of the locals — they will show you the most beautiful places To discover Cambodia as it really is, it is necessary that someone who lives here, that is a local, shows it to you best. It is precisely the local community that holds the keys to doors that are otherwise firmly locked to classic travel agencies. And these doors don’t necessarily lead to places hidden from others. Even if you visit the same monuments and walk the same paths as other tourists, your experience can be completely different. If you step through these doors, you will discover a small piece of Asia with an incredible number of historical sites, whose count only begins with Angkor. You will be able to see enchanting natural scenery as if taken from historical postcards. The most amazing thing Cambodia offers, however, are the people who live here. Although their faces still bear the horrors that happened during the rule of the Khmer Rouge, a wide smile from ear to ear and eyes full of joy are the reasons why Cambodia has become a second home for us. It is precisely thanks to these people that we have discovered ourselves and found a life mission to help as many locals as possible. And not only through Kampot pepper, which they grow on their farms, but also through you, to whom we show how amazing Cambodia truly is.

The covid era closed most of us at home for some time. We found out that our surroundings are divided into two types of "home workers". The first ones get up, get dressed, and sometimes even put on makeup as if they were going to work. Dressed like this, they then sit down at their laptops. And then there is the second type, who quickly change from pajamas into home sweatpants and, completely disheveled, sit down at their machines with an unfinished coffee five minutes before the meeting starts. Which group do you belong to? At home, one has much more time for experiments – even when cooking One way or another – one thing must be admitted about this strange time. Suddenly, a person only commutes from bed to the work desk, which means they have significantly more time. We decided to use this time productively and boldly embarked on culinary experiments at a higher level. Before we realized the madness of pepper, we used whatever pepper we had at home. But as soon as we replaced our "home" pepper with white Kampot pepper, any of our dishes were elevated from "excellent" to a "ticket to gastronomic heaven". And then there was no stopping us – we took pepper after pepper and tried what Kampot pepper would do to fish, our favorite spread, and how beef would react to it. It probably won't surprise you that the result was always fabulous. Take advantage of the current situation and experiment! Whether alone, with a partner, family, or friends, season your favorite recipes with Kampot pepper and elevate them to a new level. Your reward will not only be a satisfied stomach and an unforgettable taste experience but also the fact that with every turn of the grinder, you make the world a little bit better. Kampot pepper is exclusively sourced from farmers who are already like family to us. They share their concerns with us in these difficult times because due to coronavirus, they have been cut off from the world and tourists. So when you purchase our Kampot pepper, you bring joy not only to yourself or your loved ones but also to our farmers, showing them that their efforts are not in vain.