About the Peppadew Pepper
“Peppadew” is the brand name of piquanté peppers grown in the Limpopo province of South Africa that have been pickled and sweetened. As the story goes, a farmer discovered the tiny pepper in South Africa in the 1990s and put it on the market. He described it as “peppery” but “sweet as the dew,” hence the name. It became very popular in South Africa in the 2000s, especially as a pizza topping. The Peppadew International, a company in South Africa, trademarked the name “Peppadew®” to sell a number of food products. Though the company has a myriad of products under its belt, its highest selling product is the Peppadew pepper cultivated in South Africa. The pepper is fancied by lovers of spicy food, and the sweet piquanté pepper has never failed to thrill the taste buds. Peppadew peppers are the perfect combination of sweet and heat. Once this kind of Piquante Pepper was discovered, plant breeder’s rights were obtained from the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, with the aim of ensuring that the species is protected.
How Hot is the Peppadew Pepper?
The Peppadew pepper measures in at 1177 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale. This is roughly equal to the heat of the poblano pepper or a sweet apple pepper. Compare this to the more well-known jalapeno pepper, which averages about 5,000 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale, and this pepper is more that four times milder.
The Flavor of The Peppadew Pepper
When the Piquantè Pepper fruit is being processed, sugar is added to it to sweeten it up. This is done in the pickling process. This is why when you consume it, you may feel a hint of the sweet taste. It is considered a sweet pepper, with just a bit of heat. It is sold commercially, either hot or mild, and may be stuffed with soft cheeses, such as cream cheese or goat cheese. It is also tasty on salads, omelets, and sandwiches. NOTE: This page was updated on 1/7/20 to include new photos and information. It was originally published on 9/22/13.
