Pure Kampot Pepper at Cambodia Cooking Class

Kampot is a riverside village in Cambodia, near the former French colonial beach retreat of Kep. It is renowned for producing one of the world's finest peppers. In the years before war took its toll, no self-respecting French restaurant in Paris would do without Kampot pepper on the table. Despite pepper cultivation being adversely affected by events in Cambodia's recent history, small farmers in the region are using their traditional skills and knowledge to once again make Kampot pepper a valuable product.

Restoring the pepper industry

The local organization FarmLink Ltd. is assisting this recovery by marketing the highest grade of pepper from Kampot. Profits are devoted to forming a small farmer's cooperative to restore the peppercorn industry and invest in improving pepper production and cultivation.

High Quality Pepper

The pepper is guaranteed 100% high quality pure pepper from Kampot. Pepper sold in local markets is often mixed with lower-quality pepper from Vietnam. The aroma of pure Kampot Pepper literally springs out of the bag, and the hot taste slightly eucalyptus. Cambodian pepper rocks, the versatile flavor can range from intensely spicy to mildly sweet with a hint of flower. Alas, it is not (yet) found outside of Cambodia. Leading hotel chefs in the country buy it in bulk for their signature dishes.

Geographical Indication

Pepper from Kampot Province is well on the way to becoming the first Cambodian product to get an origin-specific label, which attests to its quality and uniqueness. A government study has found that among Cambodian products, it comes the closest to fulfilling the criteria required for a Geographical Indications (GI) designation. “Kampot pepper meets almost all the requirements needed to become a GI,” according to Van Roth San, intellectual property director at the Commerce Ministry.

Buy at the Cooking Class

Now, you can buy the real Kampot pepper at the Cambodia Cooking Class. It's available in unique and attractive gift bags, made from Cambodian silk (big bags) or krama (small bags). Buy real Kampot Pepper and support the farmers in the region!

The bags come in two sizes:

• Small Bag (30 grams) of Pure Kampot Pepper: $1.50
• Big Bag (100 grams) of Pure Kampot Pepper: $3.00

For more information about Kampot Pepper and FarmLink Ltd, contact them by or telephone: +855 (0)12 - 513 024 (Angela), +855 (0)12 - 365 321 (Jerome) or visit the Kampot Pepper website.

Recipe with Kampot Pepper:

Cambodian-Style Pepper and Lime Beef

• 1 tablespoon cane sugar or palm sugar
• 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
• 2½ tablespoons mushroom soy sauce
• 1 whole bulb garlic, all cloves crushed (or less to taste)
• 2 hot red bird chiles, chopped
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 pound sirloin, cut into thin, bite-sized pieces
• 2 tablespoons soybean oil
• Dash of fish sauce
• Lettuce leaves
• 1 raw yellow onion, sliced thinly

In a bowl, combine sugar, black pepper, soy sauce, garlic, chiles and half the lime juice. Stir well and add beef. Coat beef and marinade half an hour or longer. In skillet, sauté beef in hot oil, 3 to 4 minutes or until cooked as desired. Add remaining lime juice and fish sauce and mix well. Place on a platter over a bed of lettuce and raw yellow onion (the heat from the meat will slightly cook the onion).

Serve with rice. Makes 4 servings.

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