Long Smoked Pepper - Timiz Africain

What is long smoked pepper?

The Timiz long smoked pepper seduces and intrigues first and foremost by its shape. When you think of pepper, you can immediately imagine pretty round peppercorns. This Ethiopian pepper is quite different, it is similar in shape to the long pepper from Java. However, while it resembles its Asian cousin, this African pepper has different flavours. This long smoked pepper comes from the piper capense, a pepper plant that grows freely from the forests of the Bonga region of Ethiopia. It likes tropical climates, it is here that it develops beautiful fruits that will perfume all your cooking. It comes in a long form and differs from another long pepper, the Selim pepper, by the presence of small seeds on its surface. This pepper is quite fragile, the seeds tend to detach easily, I advise you to handle this very beautiful product with the greatest care It is a group of Ethiopians, the Manjos, who harvest Timiz pepper It benefits from a protected geographical indication, the government has chosen to encourage its development to increase local economic activity and offer a production much more ecological than that of coffee, a product widely cultivated in Ethiopia.

What is the flavour of long smoked pepper?

Timiz long smoked pepper is a spice that develops a beautiful aromatic palette. It is extremely fragrant. However, it is not pungent and thus meets the requirements of the most sensitive palates. This pepper seduces by its complexity. One discovers at the same time slightly mentholated, tobacco and resin notes. It is a totally unique spice.

The harvest of long smoked pepper

So the Timiz grows in the piper capense. This endemic pepper grows naturally at an altitude of 1,000 m in the forests of south-western Ethiopia. The manual harvest carried out by the Manjos requires a real know-how which is transmitted from generation to generation. When this long pepper reaches maturity, it is harvested and then dried over the hearths of local homes, which is what gives it its inimitable smoky taste.

How to use Timiz smoked long pepper?

Like all peppers, this spice is interesting because it will accompany you from the starter to the dessert. With its authentic flavours, the Ethiopian long smoked pepper will add complexity to your dishes for the greatest pleasure of all.

Our recipe ideas with smoked long pepper

The starter: fresh cheese toast and Timiz pepper salad

The aim of this simple starter is to let you fully discover all the flavours of this pepper. So I have chosen a simple recipe that enhances the pepper, which itself will enhance your farm cheese. You can take a goat cheese, this one totally appreciates the association with pepper. Make hot toast and put a piece of cheese on it and then grate a bit of long smoked pepper. Serve with a salad. The simplest pleasures are sometimes the best.

The dish: carbonara pasta with long smoked pepper

Another simple and effective recipe: carbonara pasta. Here, the long pepper will spice up the cream by giving it original flavours. This little smoky taste will be perfect with smoked bacon for a spicy and full-flavoured preparation.

The dessert: chocolate pie with Timiz smoked long pepper

Pepper and chocolate, it's a nice taste combination. And this is even more so with a pepper with camphorated and mentholated notes. Prepare a chocolate pie as you are used to and simply grate long smoked pepper into your ganache. Don't hesitate to add a few raspberries on top, pepper and red fruits, it's also a beautiful love story.

The health benefits of Timiz smoked long pepper

Like all peppers, Timiz long pepper is a spice with many virtues. The Ethiopians themselves have long used it for its therapeutic virtues. First of all, piperine increases serotonin levels, which helps to fight both depression and anxiety. In addition, piperine acts effectively against digestive disorders. Pepper is also known for its antibacterial virtues, it can be used in case of cough or cold. The long smoked pepper has anti-inflammatory virtues, it is perfect to relieve pain, especially arthritic pain. Detoxifying, it cleanses the liver. Diuretic, it relieves the kidneys. Of course, pepper is also known for its aphrodisiac virtues. It generates a microvascular dilatation on all the organs, including the sexual organs.

The conservation of long smoked pepper

The Timiz long smoked pepper should preferably be stored in a dry place away from light