1x3 - Black Pepper - Cambodia

December 9, 2012

Black pepper is the world's most commonly used - and misunderstood - spice. In a journey through Cambodia, where it is considered the king of spices, Stevie and Emma discover the berries of the pepper vine have much more to offer for cooking at home than people realise. In Phnom Penh's markets they learn how residents of the ex-French colony use black pepper on Gallic-influenced street food. They meet farmers who are re-establishing the champagne of peppers, Kampot, after its destruction by the Khmer Rouge. They spend time with chefs who are regenerating the Cambodian food culture by popularising traditional black pepper dishes lost under the oppressive 70s regime, including a tarantula dish that's a local delicacy. They also witness a ritual in which an expectant mother is fed a diet rich with the spice, showing how black pepper is more than just a condiment but also a symbol of rebirth, regeneration and hope.