In Espelette, in the 64th province of France, large and small store containers are filled with unimaginable chili products such as chili biscuits, chili cheese, chili black tea, and red chili bunches are hung inside and outside the house throughout the year. As a decoration, people like to eat some peppers to treat illnesses even when they are unwell. It's no wonder that people compare Espelette to "the paradise of peppers."

"Chili Paradise" well-deserved reputation

Espelette, a small town with a population of less than 3,000, is a small spot on the map, but when it comes to Espelette peppers, it is a household star in France. Born French, who would dare to say that he has never eaten Espelette pepper? The reporter made a special visit a few days ago to learn about this magical "source of French spiciness".

An Espelette pepper is about 10 cm long, and the bottom diameter is about 4 cm. The fresh fruit is red all over and turns deep red after drying. In addition to chili salt, chili vinegar, chili sauce, chili mustard sauce, chili olive oil and other processed condiments, locals like to cut a few slices or grab a chili to cook delicious pike intestines, Basque chicken, and grilled. Traditional dishes such as venison. Today, not only the Michelin chefs in Paris use it to increase the taste experience, but local pepper farmers have also developed unexpected products such as pepper black tea, pepper fruit juice, pepper beer, and pepper chocolate.

The reporter tasted the chili dew and chili chocolate at the specialty store of Pepper Farm Gilbert, which is a mixture of fruity and cocoa flavors. The Espelette pepper releases a complex and peculiar spiciness, which is endlessly memorable. Even in two adjacent workshops, as long as the recipes are slightly different, there will be differences in the tastes of the same dishes or products. Therefore, if you can taste all the specialty products and restaurants in the small town, it will be a spicy experience with thousands of different flavors.

In Espelette, in addition to enjoying the taste of chili, you can also enjoy the taste of chili. In spring, summer, autumn and winter, every household uses bunches of peppers to decorate the house from the roof to the windows. There are up to 100 peppers in a string, which looks like red firecrackers from a distance. Dozens of red peppers are matched with the unique local Basque red buildings, which makes people especially enviable the prosperous and festive days here!

Not to mention the private houses, hotels, post offices, supermarkets, banks, etc., are embarrassed to open in the town without putting on a "chili costume". The damp and moldy peppers will affect their beauty, so many people hang up porcelain artificial pepper strings to decorate their houses.

"There is inflammation, eat chili"

According to the Scoville hotness index reference, the hotness index of Espelette pepper is only 1500-2500 Scoville, which is only a little bit spicy in many Chinese. Therefore, it is no wonder that the French who usually snot and shed tears after eating a hot pot or mala tang can love Espelette peppers so much.

In addition to seasoning, peppers also symbolize love, courage, and sexual desire in the eyes of Espelettes. Every year on the last weekend of October, the town will hold a grand pepper festival, this year will be the 50th. At each pepper festival, the town will attract visitors from all walks of life. During the festival, people sang and danced while shopping for chili products. The small town church also held a mass to pray for chili peppers and pray for the prosperity of the chili industry.

The locals know that "Espresso pepper is not only delicious, but also good for health", so they both like to eat pepper and use it for healing. Espelette pepper has been proven to increase appetite, promote sweating and mucus secretion in the digestive tract, lower blood sugar, and prevent cancer. It is an ideal natural antioxidant food. The staff of the tourism office of the small town told reporters that there is a local proverb saying, "Joint pain, eat a pepper, inflammation, eat a pepper", obese and diabetic patients will also take appropriate amount of Esprit pepper to control the condition.

From food, decoration, medical treatment to tourism, people in the small town can see pepper everywhere in their lives. It is really "no spicy, no life".