Production

Cuttings

There are two varieties of plants used by the farmers in Kampot: Kamchay and Lampong (or Belantoeung), known locally as “big leaves” and “small leaves”.
Replication is done by cuttings. The geographical indication’s book of specifications forbids the use of any other varieties.

Fertilization

Fertilization is applied all year long in different ways: addition of new soil called “virgin soil”, application of cow dung and bat dung (guano). Some producers also produce fertilizers from rice field crabs, cow bone and skin of prawn.
The geographical indication’s book of specifications forbids the use of chemical fertilizers.

Irrigation

Irrigation is paramount to pepper cultivation. If rain fall is plentiful during rainy season, irrigation is necessary during dry season when a vine needs 15 L of water every 3 days.
Most of the plantations in Kampot are irrigated manually using water from ponds nearby.

Pest control

Many producers in Kampot produce today natural pesticides (repulsive) based on local plants - the knowledge transmitted from their ancestors.
The geographical indication’s book of specifications recommends using natural pesticides (not allowed to use any kinds of chemical pesticides).

History

A Terroir

Kampot pepper gets its name from the southern province of Kampot in Cambodia. This province, bordered on the south by the Siam gulf, is well known for its beautiful scenery and the genuine kindness of its inhabitants.

A “terroir” is a combination of natural (climate, soil, hydrology) and human (know-how) factors that dictate the production and elaboration of a product.

Production Area

Kampot Pepper is grown in some districts of Kampot province and of the neighbouring province of Kep.

Soil Types

The porous soils of the Phnom Voa mountain surroundings are essential to Kampot pepper cultivation as they allow a good drainage of rain water, especially during rainy season.

The origin of a product, the natural environment of the production region, leads to subtle difference of its quality, of its taste, and gives that origin products’ its particular style, and its distinctive character.

Quality Products

Fruits from Kampot region are sought after in Cambodia for their exceptional qualities: coconuts, durian, mangos... and pepper of course.

The region of Kep and Kampot has these specific attributes that make the pepper grown there unique.

A Secular History

From Angkor civilization...

Pepper in Cambodia has a centuries’ long history which precedes the great civilization of the kings of Angkor. The Chinese explorer Tchéou Ta Kouan describes pepper production in Cambodia as early as the 13th century.

To Indonesian wars...

In 1873-1874, war erupted in the Aceh province of Indonesia. Unable to contain the powerful Dutch army, the sultan of Aceh - not wanting to leave this wealth in the hands of his enemies - burned down his pepper plantation. Part of the production then moved to Cambodia, in the Kampot region.

French protectorate

Kampot province witnessed a real “pepper fever” with the arrival of the French colonists at the end of the 19th century. They intensified the production and produced up to 8000 tonnes a year at the beginning of the next century.

In the middle of the 20th century, Kampot Pepper is at its pinnacle. Production which stabilized around 3000 tonnes per year is of exceptional quality. Kampot Pepper is then the spice of choice for the top French restaurants.

The dark days

In 1975, the Khmer rouge took over the country and put in place a regime of terror that ruled the country for the next 5 years. Land and people were monopolized in order to grow rice almost exclusively.

During this period, 2 million Cambodians disappeared, infrastructure was destroyed, and intellectual elites systematically eliminated. Since the 1998 elections, the country enjoys again a relative calm but everything needs to be rebuilt...

These 5 years of terror and the 30 years of civil war that followed put a stop to the pepper production in Kampot. Pepper farms almost completely vanished and only a few poles remained out of the million still in place in the 60’s.

A new era starts...

At the end of the 20th century, producers’ families came back on their ancestral land. Coming from several generations of pepper producers, they naturally cleared the land left abandoned and started cultivating their favourite spice once again.

In 2006, thanks to the support of private business and development organizations, production picks up and recovers its former glory.

Green pepper

Harvested when still young on the vine, Kampot green pepper aromas literally explode on the palate with a very mild pepperiness. This fresh pepper accommodates perfectly a grilled squid dish.
This fresh pepper is a perfect match for a fried squid dish

Black Pepper

Kampot black pepper delivers a strong and delicate aroma. Its taste, which can range from intensely spicy to mildly sweet, reveals hints of flower, eucalyptus and mint.
This black pepper suits all kind of dishes and distinguishes itself in particular with grilled fish.

Kampot peppers’ specificities come from the mildness of their spice, the freshness and complexity of their aromas and their exceptionnal lingering taste.

Red pepper

This disconcerting pepper allows for the wildest combinations, from wild meat seasoning to vanilla desserts.

Harvested when the berry is fully mature on the vine, Kampot red pepper delivers a powerful and fruity aroma. Its taste combines the spicy, mature flavor of black pepper with a sugary sweetness.

White pepper

Kampot red and white peppers are extremely rare due to the difficulty in harvesting fully mature pepper. Only a few hundreds of kilos are produced each year.

Obtained by soaking the red berries in water for a few days, Kampot white pepper develops an intense bouquet and delicate aroma. Its strong spicy taste carries notes of fresh grass and lime.

Protected Geographical Indication

National Geographical Indication

A geographical indication designates and protects a product coming from a specific geographical area and which particular quality, reputation or other characteristics can be linked directly with this geographical origin.

EU Geographical Indication

Kampot Pepper has been registered as GI product in European Union (EU) since 18th February 2016

A Logo of Kampot Pepper

The logo placed on the final packaging is the guarantee of the origin and the quality of Kampot Pepper.

An Inter-Professional Association

The Kampot Pepper Promotion Association, registered in 2008, is in charge of managing the Kampot Pepper geographical indication. It defines the book of requirements, validates the land plots, implements the internal controls and watch over the promotion and the correct use of the name “Kampot Pepper”.

A book of specifications

The geographical indication is described in a strict book of specifications that fixes the rules in terms of production methods (farm plots, authorized products, hygiene...), processing, packaging and traceability.
For example, Kampot Pepper book of specifications forbids the use of chemical fertilizers.

An external control

The conformity of the product - from the plantation to the final packaged product - with the origin and the book of specifications is controlled using a traceability system and an internal control system (implemented by the inter professional association), coupled with an external control from a certification body accredited to the ISO 65 standard.

Registration of Kampot pepper as GI product in 32 countries through Lisbon agreement

With supports of WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) and MoC, Kampot Pepper has been registered as GI products through Lisbon agreement on 14th December 2020

Thailand Geographical Indication

Kampot Pepper has been registered as GI product in Thailand since 17th March 2017

Producers

Generations of pepper planters

Producers growing pepper in Kampot today come from several Producers growing pepper in Kampot today come from several generations of pepper planters. They came back on their land after the civil war was over and started to farm pepper using their traditional methods inherited from their ancestors. . They came back on their land after the civil war was over and started to farm pepper using their traditional methods inherited from their ancestors.

Ancestral know-how

These pepper lovers, smitten with their product, proud of their traditional values and definitely looking into the future, are the keepers of an ancestral know-how, of a way of production where the man and his land make one with a unique goal: producing the highest quality pepper.

News

Mr. NGUON Lay, President of KPPA and H.E. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Meeting of KPPA with H.E. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) on 13th February 2021

Visit of KPPA President and staff in Siem Reap markets

H.E. Minister of Commerce received registration certificate of Kampot pepper in 32 countries through Lisbon agreement in 2020

Official reception of certificate by H.E. Minister of Commerce to register Kampot pepper through Lisbon agreement in 32 countries in the world with support of WIPO in 2020

H.E. CHIV Songhak, honorary member of KPPA

☀️H.E. CHIV Songhak, honorary member of KPPA
🙏Sincere thanks to His Excellency for giving the great honor to become a Permanent Honorary Member of the Association, as well as contributing and leading in preventing and fighting against the fraud on the famous reputation of "Kampot Pepper" of the Kingdom of Cambodia in both national and international markets. 🇰🇭🌏

Meeting of KPPA and EU Land with H.E. Minister of Commerce on 04th February 2021

Visit of H.E. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) in Aries Farm, member of KPPA

Meeting of KPPA leaders with producers members in early 2021

Interview of CTN TV with President of KPPA about the situation of Kampot pepper and KPPA

KPPA in "Business Opportunities in Cambodia’s Agriculture Sector 2020" event at the Rosewood Hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Refer to the invitation of U.S. Embassy in Cambodia, General Assistant of KPPA and some members operators of the association attended in "Business Opportunities in Cambodia’s Agriculture Sector 2020" event at the Rosewood Hotel in Phnom Penh

Particiaption of KPPA in annual exhibition organized by the Ministry of Commerce (MoC)

Mr. NGUON Lay, President of KPPA, on the day of receiving certificate of official registration of Kampo Pepper as GI product in Europe in 2016

[French & English below]

Visit of H.E. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Official visit of H.E. VENG Sakhon, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) to see the achievements of the association and to visit Kampot pepper plantation of farmers.

Mission of KPPA in Espelette, Aquitaine Region, France

Reception of GI registration certificate of Kampot pepper in Thailand in 2017

Mr. NGUON Lay, President of KPPA received certificate of official registration of Kampot Pepper as GI product in Thailand. The event had been organized in Bangkok, Thailand with participation of Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) of the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and President of Kampong Speu Palm Sugar Promotion Association (KSPA) from Cambodia side

Mission of “Syndicat of GI Espelette Chili” in Cambodia to exchange experiences with KPPA

Fighting against the frauds in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Under honor of H.E. Director General of CAMCONTROL, President of KPPA carried out activities to promote, educate and prevent the sale of counterfeit Kampot pepper by traders and sellers in Siem Reap in order to stop those activities as it is against the law on “Geographical Indication” of Cambodia.

Training to Kampot pepper producers members of KPPA

Training to Kampot pepper producers members on how to record correctly in the book of matter accounting following traceability system of the association

Meeting of KPPA and supermarket mangers in Bangkok, Thailand

Meeting of KPPA and supermarket in Bangkok, Thailand who was interested in buying, packaging and selling Kampot pepper in Thailand with facilitation of Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) of the Ministry of Commerce (MoC)

KPPA with EU Land in 2019

KPPA joined in the EU Land's event to show the drying and vacuum machine will be used for EU Land office based in Chhouk district, Kampot province under supported by embassy of Czech Republic in 2019

National seminar on GI concept and protection in Cambodia organized by the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and Kampot Pepper Promotion Association (KPPA) at Siem Reap in 2016

National seminar on GI concept and protection in Cambodia organized by the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and Kampot Pepper Promotion Association (KPPA) at Siem Reap in 2016 with objective to make awareness on GI concept especially what is real Kampot pepper to traders, sellers, fake Kampot pepper packagers, and consumers.

Ceremony of official registration of Kampot pepper as GI product in Cambodia on April 02, 2010

Reception of appreciation letter from H.E. Minister of Commerce on 27th November 2020

On 27-11-2020: Mr. NGUON Lay, President of KPPA received “Certificate of Appreciation” from H.E. PAN Sorasak, Minister of Commerce of the Kingdom of Cambodia for his very good achievements to lead the association so far

KPPA's executive committee in national consultation workshop on CF and cross border agricultural trade organized by MAFF

KPPA's executive committee and Kampong Trach district deputy governor has joined in the national consultation workshop on contract farming and cross border agricultural trade in Cambodia.

Study visit of Students from Agricultural University to visit KPPA in 2010

Study visit on Kampot Pepper farm of trainees participating in “Asia GI Regional Training” from Asian countries in 2017

Kampot pepper exhibition in National Exhibition organized by the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia

Study visit of students from Europe with KPPA in 2011

Mr. Nguon Lay, President of KPPA and some members of management committee received a study visit of students from Europe. The objective of the study visit is to study and understand more about “Kampot pepper” and “The management of GI association” especially the reasons to make Kampot pepper famous and got recognition in both national and international market

“Kampot Pepper Festival” organized by KPPA in April 2011

Participation of KPPA in official registration of Koh Trung pomelo, 3rd GI product of Cambodia on 25th June 2018 in Kratie, Cambodia

Mr. NGUON Lay, President of KPPA together with some members of management committee of the association attended in Launching Event of Geographical Indication “Koh Trung Pomelo” in Kratie town, Kratie province under the honor of H.E. PAN Sorasak, Minister of Commerce (MoC). In that event, His Excellency has also reminded the President of KPPA not to forget to support Koh Trung-Kratie Pomelo Producer Association (KTPA) as well.

Press diner in Malis

07/10/2009 - Press diner in Malis restaurant

Trade exhibition in Cambodia

Kampot pepper shown in the major Trade exhibition in Cambodia – December 2009

Angkorchey 1 village, Damnak Kantuot Khang Tbaung commune, Kampong Trach district, Kampot province
kppa2008@yahoo.com
+855-92-752-572 ឬ +855-92-618-011

Partners

The Ministry of Commerce (MoC)

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

Department of Intellectual Property Ministry of Commerce Cambodia

Syndicat de l'AOC Piment d'Espelette

Aquitaine Region, France

Agence Française et Développent International/French Agency for Development (AFD)

European Union (EU)

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)