VELVET HEAT
Altınözü Pepper
BLUNT NOSE
The Altınözü pepper's identity stems from the calcareous soil and scorching sun of Altınözü. Its flesh is thick, and its tip is blunt rather than pointed. When pounded in a mortar, it releases its own natural oil, as if external oil had been added. This oil is the carrier of its aroma.
COLLECTIVE MORTAR
When harvest arrives, the streets of Altınözü are painted red. This isn't a quiet factory process, but a loud, communal gathering known as "imece". Gathered around large mortars set up in the streets, everyone crushes the peppers with rhythmic beats, mixing together stories of that year's harvest. This ritual is also a tradition that stains the social fabric red.
SEED VS. HYBRID
One of the biggest threats is the replacement of local "native" seeds with hybrid seeds in the name of yield. Local seeds must be preserved, despite the distortion of pepper shapes for the sake of increased yield. While traditional methods may be romantic, to keep the heritage alive, the drying process should be moved from the soil (risking aflatoxins) to high grids exposed to sunlight.