Banasura pepper GI

The semi-wild Banasura pepper is the absolute top pepper from the Malabar coastal strip. It grows in the Western Ghats, in the Wayanad valley. Banasura pepper is a mild, hot pepper, partly due to the exceptional size of the berry.

In the Wayanad valley grows  this authentic pepper variety against the naturally present trees. The area is known for the Periyar Tiger Reserve, and is part of the Cardamom Hills protected by UNESCO. The main crops in the Wayanad Valley are coffee, cocoa and cardamom, and the local black pepper. Banasura pepper is semi-wild, the lianas grow against the trees in the forest, near the villages. The pepper plants are fertilized in the traditional way with cow dung and Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica), a 'natural pesticide'. Of course, no chemical pesticides are used.

The plants grow up to 12 meters high, which is very unusual for a pepper. The pepper in Wayanad is a landrace, crossed from the Karimunda and Panniyur varieties. In this special setting of the valley, the pepper plant is given the opportunity to grow longer than usual into full, starchy berries. This produces a pepper that is deep red to deep brown, and not black. The smell is reminiscent of sandalwood.  The pepper has been under the Indian Geographical Protection since 2006.

Our Banasura pepper is a Tellicherry - collective name for large pepper berries from the Malabar region - of the TGEB type (Tellicherry Garbled Extra Bold), with a grain size of 4.25 mm or larger. The pepper comes from Pulpally, and is grown organically, just like the coffee and cocoa on the plantation. The harvest takes place at the end of winter and the beginning of summer, at the end of March. The unique growth habit makes the harvest, which is done entirely by hand, time-consuming. Our pepper is also dried in special rooms and not in the sun, which means that the already exceptional aromas are even better preserved.

The pepper is named after Banasura, one of the highest mountains in the Western Ghats of Wayanad district, Kerala, India. The mountain is in turn named after a mythical character from Indian legends. Pulpally is located about forty kilometers from the Banasura Sagar dam.

Why not organic?

In order to be able to supply this sustainably grown pepper under the label of organic, we as a packer/producer of the pepper will have to be certified. We are not. Although we process and store the organic products and products from regular cultivation strictly separately, we are not (yet) allowed to use the label of organic. This pepper grows in the wild.

Usage

This particularly tasty black pepper is very suitable for general use.

Features:

• 100% pepper berries from the Piper nigrum var karimunda x panniyur
• protected by Indian GI (Geographical Protection) label
• semi-wild - organic
• origin: Wayanad valley, Malabar Strip, Western India

Allergens: no

Assortment

• available in glass, stand-up pouch and test tube  from 10 ml
• larger quantities on request

Gift wrapping

• The jar is available in a tasteful gift packaging, consisting of a cube box filled with black tissue paper
• For an overview of our gift packaging, please refer to the gift packaging section

General advice

• grind your pepper shortly before use
  
• add the ground pepper to your preparation at the very last moment

Save:

• store your Banasura pepper in closed packaging
• preferably store in a dark, dry and cool place
• at least good until September 2026 (09/26)
• This expiration date is an indication

Batch number

The batch number helps us trace which supply an item originates from. It is stated on the packing slip and the invoice