Kampot pepper
A Cambodian pepper with protected geographical indication status.
Kampot pepper, also known historically as Indochinese pepper, is a cultivar of black pepper grown in Cambodia. It is notable for being the first Cambodian product to receive Geographical Indication status from the World Trade Organization, and it has also been certified as a GI product in the European Union. The pepper is produced in green, black, white, and red varieties from the same plant.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Piper
- Species
- P. nigrum
- Origin
- pre-13th century
Facts from the source article.
Production
The climate of Kampot Province and the quartz content of the soil in the foothills of the Elephant Mountains contribute to the pepper's terroir. Knowledge of cultivation and production has been passed down since at least the 13th century. Storage conditions also affect quality, and different grades are produced. Plantations are inspected by the Kampot Pepper Producers Association and the independent certification body Eco-Cert. Only accredited members of the KPPA who follow the PGI criteria may sell pepper under the Kampot Pepper appellation. In 2016, Cambodia produced 11,819 tonnes of black pepper by the end of May, a 20% increase over the same period in 2015, with about 72% coming from Tbong Khmum. Vietnam led global production with 155,000 tons in 2014. The favourable world market price has spurred new plantations, though large ones in some regions contribute to deforestation.
History
Kampot pepper cultivation was first described in the 13th century during the Angkorian era by the Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan. Intensive production began under French colonial rule in the 1870s, and by the early 20th century annual harvests reached around 8,000 tons. In the 1960s, 1 million pepper poles in Kampot produced about 3,000 tons per year. The Cambodian Civil War severely reduced output, with only 4 tons harvested annually by the end of the 1990s. Production slowly recovered in the 2000s as farmers returned to their lands. As of July 2015, six districts in Kampot Province had pepper farms, with overseas markets including Europe, the United States, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. The product obtained WTO GI status in 2010, boosting international demand, though annual export volume remained small.
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