Organic Crushed Chilli Flakes Standard Jar - 30g Steenbergs details and description

Steenbergs Organic Chilli Flakes come from organic dried chillis that have been crushed.  Steenbergs Organic Chilli Pieces are chopped pieces of hot, dried organic chillies . There is a vast range of different types of chili where some are sold within Steenbergs specialist chilli section. Add as much organic chilli or as little as you and your guests desire.

Steenbergs Organic Chilli Pieces are currently 40,000 -50,000 SHUs. Chilli plants vary considerably in size, appearance and heat. Capsicum annuum is a herb or small shrub, with oval leaves and firm woody stems, growing to 1 metre high (3ft). They are usually grown as annuals as the yield of chilli fruits diminishes after the first year. The chilli pod is a many seeded red berry with a shiny skin that comes in a wide variety of shapes, colours, thickness and spicy heat.

The aroma and flavour of fresh chillis is distinctly capsicum-like, with a hint of sweetness. Their pungent bite comes from the levels of capsaicin present in the fruit; capsaicin causes the brain to release endorphins and so feelings of wellbeing. To make dry chillis, the fresh chillies are dried indoors at 20-25C (68-77F) to allow them to fully ripen, then they are dried outside on concrete floors, roofs of buildings or woven mats. At night they are heaped into piles and covered with tarpaulins to protect them, before being spread out again during the day. It takes roughly three days for the moisture content to be brought down to 10% from 70-80% when fresh; as an approximation, 100kg of fresh chillies yields 25-35kg of dried chilli spice. For more information on chilli pepper, visit Wikipedia.

With the popularity of Indian cooking, we have become very fond of chilli in our food, whether dried or via a table sauce. I am forever adding some heat from a sauce to add some spice into insipid and bland chicken, soup or vegetables. Why not also make a simple sauce by adding 3 or 4 fresh chillies or dried organic Birds Eye chilli to a bottle of sherry for a few days, then adding it to food as and when needed? Chilli combines well with almost all other spices and is found in recipes ranging from bhajis through to chutneys and tomato ketchup. For more inspiration, try the BBC Website.

Steenbergs Organic Crushed Chilli Pieces is a core to Steenbergs range of over 400 organic spices, peppers, seasonings, herbs and flavoured sugars. It can be found in many of our retail stockists; for your nearest outlet, you can search our stockist database, ring Steenbergs on 01765 640 088 or email us at enquiries@steenbergs.co.uk.