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Just like it is with us, Cambodians also pay due attention to the celebration of the New Year. This holiday, which, following the example of countries like India or Thailand, is based on the solar calendar, celebrates not only the beginning but also the end – it marks the end of the demanding harvest period, allowing farmers to take a break. However, don’t expect New Year's Eve with fireworks until the very end – before that, many important rituals need to be performed! Day 1 (Moha Sangkran): Arrival of angels and new loves The Khmers believe that on the first day of the New Year celebrations, new angels arrive to take care of this world. They decorate their homes for the angels, perform a thorough cleaning, and prepare drinks and fruit so that the angels fall properly in love with this world – and especially with their households . Each content angel stays in the house for the entire year and takes care of the whole family. On this day, people also go to the temple for blessings, traditional games are played, and some young Cambodians welcome this day as a suitable moment for meeting new people. In the past few decades, "dating" as we know it did not exist in Cambodia, so this holiday is full of shared encounters on the street and is a very convenient moment to take the first step and get to know an exceptional partner. Day 2 (Wanabot): Giving As an old Indian proverb says, "Whatever is worth having is also worth sharing" – and the Khmers know this very well. On this day, they offer gifts to their parents, grandparents, and elders. These are material gifts, but also money or clothing for the poor. In the evening, everyone gathers in temples, builds sand mountains, and asks monks for blessings of happiness and peace. Day 3 (Leung Sakk): Thorough cleaning and refreshment for the New Year We could call this day our New Year's Eve – it is the day when the year 2021 becomes 2022. Early in the morning, the Khmers head to the temple to perform the sand mountain ritual and receive blessings. Then comes the joyful festival Srang Preah, where everyone showers. But don’t worry, it doesn’t mean mass celebrations in Cambodian bathrooms, but a ritual purification. Water is poured over and used to bathe Buddhist statues, monks, elders, parents, and grandparents so that people apologize and show gratitude. And at the same time, it’s also a bit for the young to have proper fun.The Khmer New Year is a great traditional holiday full of colors and joy for Cambodians. You can enjoy it too as a visitor if you happen to be in Cambodia at that time. During this period, we recommend visiting the Angkor Wat temple, where you can also receive blessings from monks, which can be an unforgettable souvenir for the whole year. Or stop by the south of the country, in Kampot, for the best pepper in the world.

The Cambodian New Year, also known as the Khmer New Year (in Khmer: បុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំខ្មែរ), also called Choul Chnam Thmey or Moha Sangkran, is a traditional annual celebration of the new year in Cambodia. This three-day festival falls this year on April 14th - 16th and is associated not only with the start of the solar year according to, for example, India or Thailand, but also, in terms of timing, for example, with our Easter. And the date is actually not the only thing these two holidays have in common. Pagan blessing or Khmer tradition? Besides the very traditional cleaning of Buddha statues with perfumed water by the elders, the rich setting of tables with flowers and food to honor their ancestors, and the display of beautiful festive costumes, the Khmers celebrate the arrival of the new year also with the very popular water pouring. Does this remind you of the Moravian countryside? It certainly can, because this custom looks very similar and definitely the youth have a lot of fun with it both here and in Cambodia! Prepare for a proper shower While here the so-called "Oblévačka" means pouring water on girls on Easter Monday – originally as a punishment for stinginess and not giving gifts to carolers, later known as a rejuvenating treatment – it always took place with buckets and cold water, in Cambodia they most often pour liquid plaster (a mixture of water with some chalk powder). This festival is called Srang Preah. In both cases, you can be almost 100% sure that this shower will unexpectedly land on your head thanks to the younger generation, who properly enjoy both holidays. But don't be confused and definitely don't take it as malice; pouring water for Khmers means an apology – they apologize to their elders for any mistake they caused and to show gratitude. April – holiday time The reason why Cambodians celebrate the new year beginning in April basically has two reasons. First, in the Angkor era, that is in the 13th century, the then Khmer king changed the new year to the fifth month of the lunar calendar, that is April according to the solar calendar. And because about 95% of the population in Cambodia is engaged in agriculture, this made great sense to everyone. The period from November to March is the busiest time for Khmer farmers when they harvest rice fields. In April, Khmers find time for a little vacation after hard work in the fields, because it still does not rain and it is still very hot.  And what about Kampot pepper, you ask? It slightly deviates from this harvest ending because it needs different conditions than rice. And we already know well that the rarest ripe red pepper is harvested only at the turn of May. 

While the cuisine of Vietnam, China, or Japan is still exotic to us, but far from unknown, in the case of Cambodian cuisine (or if we want to be traditional, Khmer cuisine) we are talking about flavors that are a great mystery not only in the Czech Republic but also for many other European countries. So what does a traditional Cambodian feast really look like? Rice and freshwater fish play an important role in the diet of the Khmers. Moreover, real connoisseurs are in rice – Khmer cuisine uses over 2000 varieties! These are ingredients that are ubiquitous in the country thanks to the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake. This lake expands during the monsoon season to an area of up to 16 thousand square kilometers and brings beneficial moisture to the rice fields, creating a perfect environment for fish breeding. France, Vietnam, but also China Traditional Khmer recipes are influenced by a whole range of neighboring countries. To the west, Thai influences are noticeable, while to the east, Vietnamese ones. The cuisine was also influenced by Chinese immigrants, and we must not forget the French influence, to which Cambodia was subject during the colonial times of this country by the French. Traditional ingredients are therefore similar to those used in other Asian countries. Besides fish and rice, these include palm sugar, limes, garlic, chili, coconut milk, lemongrass, shallots, and so on. Among the traditional dishes is, for example, Amok fish steamed in coconut milk and wrapped in a banana leaf. In this dish, curry paste also plays an important role. It is a national dish that we could compare to our svíčková (a Czech beef dish), although in this case we are talking about a very healthy svíčková. :-) How do they sin in Cambodia? Even Cambodians know how to indulge in a bit of the unhealthy, as demonstrated by Twa Ko, a traditional sausage. It is made from pork or beef and various mixtures of spices. A proper Twa Ko should contain 20 to 25 percent fat. They prefer to grill the sausage, or enjoy it with vegetables and rice. Nom banh chok is the equivalent of a Czech roll with butter and tea. It is a broth with rice noodles in curry, which Cambodians like to eat for breakfast. These noodles are topped with fish sauce and served with plenty of vegetables such as cucumber, bean sprouts, banana flower, and so on. Cambodians also have a sweet tooth. In their case, desserts mostly consist of sweet fruit again accompanied by rice. You wouldn’t believe how many different types of bananas actually exist until you visit some Cambodian markets. Besides bananas, mango, pineapple, or durian with its unusual taste and smell, which Asians literally adore, are very popular fruits.

Putting pepper on fish, meat, in sauces or dressings is something that always works. However, today we will look at several ingredients with which black pepper gets along exceptionally well, even though no one would expect it! Surprise your guests with ice cream sprinkled with black powder or properly spicy peanut butter. 1. Ice Cream Who would have ever thought that black pepper would go well with ice cream? There are many recipes that combine these two ingredients. However, it’s not such a surprise when we realize that pepper is actually a fruit. :-) We recommend using red pepper with ice cream, which is full of sweet fructose and therefore not only smells like fruit but also tastes like it! 2. Fruit Speaking of fruit, try grinding pepper directly onto it sometimes. Especially with sweet summer fruits, the spicy taste of pepper works best. Pepper enhances the fruity flavor and adds the right zing. Again, we recommend red pepper, which elevates fruit desserts to a whole new level. And what about with chocolate! Try our exclusive selection of dark red Kampot peppercorns. 3. Oatmeal Do you like to have oatmeal for breakfast? How about spicing it up with a bit of black pepper? Pepper is known to improve blood flow to the mucous membranes and support circulation in the veins. There is nothing better to kickstart a sleepy morning. Moreover, only those who want to be truly healthy eat oatmeal instead of chocolate muffins, and pepper is a great helper for that. 4. Nut Butters Many people also enjoy nut butters in various forms for breakfast. Have you ever wondered how their taste would get along with the spicy flavor of pepper? Very well! Try spreading peanut butter on banana bread and adding a little ground peppery delight. You’ll see you won’t lack a smile on your face. Vegan nut butters with Kampot pepper are also available from us. For example, try the exotic combination of cashew nuts, white chocolate, dragon fruit, and red Kampot pepper. 5. Yogurt Similar emotions will be evoked by the combination of black pepper and Greek yogurt. Thick and fatty yogurt deserves something to break through, and that’s exactly what black pepper provides. Try adding a bit of garlic and you’ll get an unusual snack full of energy and healthy substances, or a great dip for summer grilling.

The best food in the world is cooked only and exclusively from fresh ingredients, and you will find exactly such ingredients on Scuk, an online platform where smaller local farmers and other producers offer their goods. Recently, you can also find us among them, because when you buy a piece of quality beef, you certainly don't want to spoil it with poor-quality pepper. Shopping on Scuk brings a whole range of benefits. Firstly, you support local producers, whom you might often not even be aware of. By doing so, you boost the local economy and confirm to them that the hard work they put into their craft is worthwhile.  Organic quality and chemical-free At the same time, you get foods on your table that reach a significantly higher quality than those found in supermarkets. Most products are organic quality, no chemical agents were used in their treatment, and the subsequent processing methods are also much gentler than in conventional food factories or meat processing plants. The range of products you will find on Scuk is truly wide. You can easily find meat, vegetables, fruit, bakery, long-lasting foods, alcohol, but also cosmetics or household items. Where to find us? You can find us in the spices section, where we have brought all kinds of pepper that you will also find in our e-shop. Furthermore, you will discover our delicate Kampot salt flowers collected from the surface of sea salt pans from the purest waters of Cambodia, and our specialty is not missing either – pepper beer, which always has just the right bite. Our pepper combined with local foods will elevate your culinary skills and reveal to you the beauty of cooking with fresh ingredients. Try adjusting your menu to the seasonal offerings on Scuk and you will see that your food will taste much better than when cooking with often tired and inferior supermarket foods. Our Kampot pepper will also help you bring out the best in your food and turn it into a real delicacy. Get to know the entire Scuk offer yourself, or take a look directly at our products.

If you take a look at our assortment, you'll quickly understand that we love Kampot pepper so much that we are not afraid to experiment with it and literally add it to everything possible. From chocolate, dried meat, and delicious nut butters, to beer and various types of spirits. The boundaries of this exploration are, however, endless, and you can conduct similar experiments with our Kampot pepper at home as well. One of the possibilities is coffee with black pepper. If you wonder whether the bitterness of coffee needs something as pronounced as pepper, you might be surprised what pepper can do to its flavor. The taste of pepper has the power to suppress the legendary bitterness of coffee and highlights the flavor tones that accompany it. At the same time, it adds its own specific taste and a characteristic spiciness that rightly spices up the whole coffee experience. The pepper and coffee drink is ideally combined with milk, which thickens its taste, and also sugar, which adds a sweet background to the spiciness and bitterness of the drink. However, if you prefer the full flavor of coffee, first taste the drink without milk and sugar. How to do it? The ideal ratio is half a teaspoon of crushed black Kampot pepper to two teaspoons of coffee. You can prepare the drink, for example, in a French press or AeroPress. Pour hot water over both the pepper and coffee together and let it steep long enough. Try to choose quality coffee with a rich aroma, preferably one whose taste you are familiar with and can precisely recognize the changes brought by the added pepper. And once you have fair trade Kampot pepper at home, you can also try fair trade coffee beans. :-) Life is far too short not to conduct such experiments. And if you don't have sufficiently original vessels to enjoy such treats from, take a look at our limited edition Golden Peppercorn dishes by French artist Marie Poirot.

Although it may not look like it at first glance, black pepper is a fruit just like, for example, grape wine. This means that its taste is influenced by the conditions in which it is grown and the processes it undergoes. Thanks to this, the flavor profile of peppercorns grown in different regions can differ significantly. An absolute layman might find the taste of each peppercorn more or less identical. However, if you know what to focus on when tasting, even those whose palates are not the most sensitive will quickly recognize interesting flavor nuances. Where does tasting begin and where does it end? If you are going to taste pepper, it is good to first focus on the Lot number, that is, the batch of the given harvest. This number will tell you how fresh the pepper is and where it was grown. If the Lot number is missing on the bag, it is better to avoid such pepper. Don't know exactly what a Lot number is and where to find this number? Read our article, which deals in detail with this great helper in searching for quality. After you open the bag with pepper, focus on the color and quality of the grains. If the grains crumble, are musty or even moldy, it is better not to consume the pepper at all. The entire contents of the bag should have a uniform color. There should be no larger differences between shades. Remember that for black pepper, the rule applies: the darker the grain, the better the quality. A deep dark color and consistent structure without cracks and other visual changes are also signs of the pepper's freshness. During the tasting itself, focus on the acidity of the pepper, which should not be dominant at all, but should be slightly present. Black pepper is obtained by drying green pepper in the sun, so acidic tones are appropriate. Which aroma is appropriate? Although it may sound strange, look for sweet tones in the flavor as well, not only in the fruity and fully ripe Kampot red pepper. Even black pepper should be accompanied by sweet tones alongside its characteristic pungency. And last but not least, also look for citrus, camphor, and floral tones in pepper. These are most noticeable in fully ripened red pepper, but can also be found in other colors of peppercorns.

All good things are round. Our planet, a well-fed belly, and also peppercorns. Thanks to our cooperation with the Steiner & Kovarik chocolate factory, our chocolate balls with a small Kampot surprise inside are now also ranked among the best round things. Whenever we invent one of our new products, we try to collaborate with the best professionals available in the Czech Republic. This was also the reason why we approached Silvia Steiner and Petr Kovařídek from the Prague chocolate factory Steiner & Kovarik, whose chocolate is decorated with numerous world awards and whose customers include the Sultan of Oman himself. It is no wonder; their unique Bean-to-Bar chocolate processing concept, where the chocolate factory has full control over the entire production, is a mark of quality at first glance. We decided to complement such exceptional chocolate with the most extraordinary that .pepper..field can offer. The choice immediately fell on our green freeze-dried pepper, for which we were awarded the only gastronomic Oscar in the Czech Republic, the Golden Fork trophy at the worldwide culinary competition Great Taste. How to make real white chocolate and freeze-dried pepper? Thanks to freeze-drying, or drying by freezing, we managed to preserve the freshness and unique fresh taste of the green pepper, complemented by the light saltiness of the brine in which it is preserved before freeze-drying. Together with Steiner & Kovarik, we wrapped this treasure into an unusual white chocolate with added almonds, which gently caresses not only the tongue but also the soul. Did you know that real white chocolate actually contains more chocolate than typical dark chocolate? It only requires the manufacturer to keep the very valuable cocoa butter, which is otherwise sold to the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. But Petr Kovařík does not do that, so our chocobombs are full of the highest quality and healthy cocoa butter. Do you know how "healthy" dragees taste? „ “ The dragee coating plays the absolute leading role in production. Thanks to it, these beautiful, symmetrical, velvety golden balls are created. Inside the chocolate dragee is a whole peppercorn, which gives the delicate treat a proper kick. How intense it will be is entirely up to you and your choice. In every Package, you will find three sizes of balls. While the largest ones are dominated by the taste of chocolate, gently enhanced by pepper tones in the background, the smallest balls deliver a seriously spicy ride that you will enjoy immensely. We packed everything into a luxurious gift box decorated with velvety black and bright gold colors, hinting at how luxurious the item inside is.

As you surely know, Kampot pepper is considered the best pepper in the world due to its unique taste. However, this does not mean that all purchased pepper from this area will always reach the highest quality. Its quality is significantly influenced by freshness. How do you recognize that the purchased pepper is truly fresh? This is what the so-called batch number, also known as the Lot number, is for. This number reveals not only who grew your pepper but mainly when it was grown, and thus whether you are buying truly fresh and authentic Cambodian taste. It often happens that you buy Kampot pepper with a lot number that is 4 years old, which dramatically affects the quality. What is the Lot number for? Just like every car has a batch number and serial number that together form the vehicle's identification number, Kampot pepper also has such an identification number. And just like other products that can be easily confused and whose quality needs to be monitored, it is necessary to record the journey of Kampot pepper to the final consumer, that is, to you. The batch number allows us to easily conduct regular quality checks on Kampot pepper, calculate consumption data, and monitor its production. For all our customers, it is a unique identifier they can use when examining the delivered Kampot pepper – to make sure everything is in order. In short – the Lot number takes you all the way back to the very beginning. To Cambodia. To the Kampot province. To our farming families hidden behind our Lot number. ☺ How to understand the Lot number The first part of the Lot number changes continuously with each harvest. It also serves as an identifier of when the pepper was grown and how fresh it is. Because we import pepper to Europe several times a year, you can be sure that the Lot number on our pepper always indicates the current harvest of the given year. For example – if your bag says B21, then your Kampot pepper was harvested that year. ☺ The next part of the Lot number remains unchanged. According to it, you can determine that the Kampot pepper really comes from farms under .pepper..field. In our case, you can verify that we source pepper from truly small, local growers whose pepper reaches the highest quality – and also how many there are. Everything is clearly monitored by KPPA, the largest organization under which all Kampot pepper production falls. Check out our number C-043. Unfortunately, not all producers feel the need to offer their customers only the best, so it can happen that their bags contain pepper harvested even four years ago. This then strongly reflects on the quality of the contained pepper, which loses its flavor intensity, may become musty, and have other problems that make it subsequently inedible. The Lot number should always be clearly visible on the packaging In our case, you will find it on the back of the bags near the certifications, which are another sign that Kampot pepper you find with us is a true original, the champagne among peppers, which tastes exceptional and helps where needed.

A rat decorated with medals might seem a bit comical, but in this case humor is set aside. The little golden medal was awarded to the mouse Magawa for his service to the organization APOPO, whose goal is to detect landmine-contaminated areas, clear them of mines, and thus make another piece of precious land accessible to locals, which previously was too dangerous to cultivate. We also supported Magawa and visited him several times during our stay in Cambodia. The news of his death saddened us deeply. Let us remember his importance at least with the following article, which we dedicate to this rat hero. Magawa – brave lifesaver Magawa performed his service precisely in Cambodia, which is still considered one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world. This is a remnant of the bloody genocide by the Khmer Rouge, who killed or severely injured more than 64,000 residents in the country. Thanks to the work of Magawa, his rat colleagues, and the entire team, mines in rural areas of Cambodia are being found by the hundreds. There are several reasons why rats are used for mine detection. These animals have a perfectly developed sense of smell, and if they undergo the right training, they are able to sniff out the chemicals inside mines and mark the location. Their reward is, of course, a treat. At the same time, their weight is so low that they can run through minefields without any fear of activating the devices with their small paws and causing an explosion. A rat cannot do without a human – and a human cannot do without a rat either Because of this, Magawa was able to search an area the size of a tennis court within thirty minutes, which would take an ordinary person with a detector several days. Nevertheless, this rat hero was never alone during searches – a human with a detector always accompanied him to confirm his findings. According to statistics, rats have collectively found nearly 65,000 mines hidden in the ground, thereby protecting about 1.7 million people from potential injury or even death. Therefore, it is important to highlight and remember heroes like Magawa, who enjoyed a well-deserved rest in his final years and became a role model for many of his successors. Photo source: PDSA

Cambodia is a country that attracts an increasing number of tourists seeking exotic experiences. However, it is not only nature, food, or architecture that is exotic in Cambodia. For us Europeans, some typical behavioral patterns of Cambodians can also be surprising, and it is good to be prepared for them. Cheers! And properly Toasting is common in many European countries. However, Cambodians experience this custom in a very unusual way. During celebrations, they toast (in Khmer, "cul mui") with every sip, and everything is accompanied by great cheers and wishes for everyone sitting at the table individually. It is no wonder that such a drinking session can last late into the night. Mainly calmly The main religion in the country is Buddhism — the philosophy of this religion is embraced by the vast majority of Cambodians. This is also why they are mild, calm, and always try to avoid conflicts. You will rarely hear angry shouting or arguments. Likewise, if you let your emotions get the better of you, you lose your authority in the eyes of the locals. Here, the best strategy is a smile from ear to ear. What to wear? Cambodians are quite reserved, so it is good to wear not too flashy clothing that covers at least below the knees and also covers the elbows when visiting religiously significant places. It is also considered rude to enter someone's home wearing shoes. This rule also applies to temples, where it is appropriate to remove head coverings as well. Do not touch The head is considered the most sacred part of the body in Cambodia, while the feet are regarded as the least important. Therefore, it is not appropriate to touch anyone's head. Similarly, it is rude to point at people's feet, especially monks and Buddha statues. No handshakes Yes, handshakes are not appropriate in this case. In Cambodia, greetings are made by placing the palms together, bringing the hands to the chest, all accompanied by a gentle bow. The higher the person stands in front of you, the higher your hands should be and the deeper your bow. Observing these customs opens the hearts of the Khmers, and soon a kind acceptance with wide smiles follows, perhaps calmly beyond the threshold of their homes, where the real, authentic Cambodia begins. We also always humbly follow the customs of our farmers in the Kampot region, whom we greatly respect.

Peppercorns that you can purchase from us contain a whole mix of flavors and aromas, have different textures, and ultimately also different uses. However, there is one more important thing that cannot be perceived by any of the basic senses. That thing is goodness. Goodness represented by the smiles of farmers in Cambodia, whom you help achieve a better quality of life by purchasing pepper from us in .pepper..field. Direct and fair trade works Life in Cambodia is not easy, and especially not for small farmers, even though the pepper they grow on their plantations reaches the highest quality in the world. When we first walked among the pepper vines and spoke with local farmers, it immediately became clear to us that we wanted to help. We established personal contacts and started buying pepper directly from these small producers. Thanks to direct and fair trade, we can give these people a fair reward for their work, help them fulfill their dreams, and at the same time positively influence the wage conditions that prevail in the Kampot region and among the local farmers. Fulfilled wishes – that is the goodness hidden in every peppercorn Since 2018, we have gradually supported more than 200 small families in this way, helping them secure a better life. Most of the funds are used by families for maintaining their farms and much-needed healthcare. They also try to invest in their children's education, or fulfill big dreams for them. For example, to visit the famous Angkor Wat temple at least once in their lifetime. But our mission is far from over. With every purchased Packagem of pepper, we slowly get closer to our goal of creating such wage conditions among all Cambodian farmers that they receive a fair reward for their work, can be self-sufficient, teach their craft to future generations, and help this magical country further develop economically. Take a look at all our farmers we currently have under our wings. ♥

You might be wondering if we're crazy. After all, everyone notoriously knows the taste of pepper! However, in Czech households, we unfortunately most often encounter pepper from large spice producers who pour pepper of pitifully low quality into bags with peppercorns. Let's embark together on a journey to discover the secret of high-quality genuine pepper, which enchanted us a few years ago and turned our lives upside down.  We are not sellers of hundreds of types of exotic spices from around the world. The only thing that interests us is pepper, and the best pepper in the world. That is why in our offer you will find only pepper imported from the Kampot province located in the Asian country of Cambodia, which we fell in love with immediately upon visiting. You will notice the difference immediately The difference between Kampot pepper and the pepper commonly available in supermarkets is apparent at first glance. Kampot peppercorns are larger, significantly fuller, have a perfect structure, and above all a uniquely rich color compared to ordinary pepper. In contrast, supermarket pepper is dull, often shows signs of mold, and its texture resembles a deflated balloon rather than a grain full of pepper dynamite. The most common "supermarket" manifestation is peppercorns of completely different color, consistency, and size in one bag – indicating unclear origin and age of the pepper.  The scent of the two peppers is also different. While supermarket pepper barely registers any aroma to your nose, with Kampot pepper you find yourself on a pepper plantation the moment you open the bag. When you grind the pepper, you unleash a small storm full not only of the characteristic pepper scent but also tones of citrus, conifers, sweet fruit, and more. But beware – once you taste such pepper, you probably won't want any other and will very quickly develop an addiction. :-) We know the journey of every peppercorn One of the main reasons why our pepper is so distinctly higher quality compared to others is, of course, the unique location where it is grown, but also the speed with which it is transported to the Czech Republic. We purchase pepper directly from farmers and ship it straight to our warehouses, so it cannot happen that it waits somewhere in a dark, damp transshipment point before another reseller shows interest. With us, you also have the assurance that the peppercorns you receive are always larger than 4 mm. This is mandated by the export regulations of Kampot pepper, which are strictly adhered to in Cambodia with maximum precision, manual selection, and tweezers picking. In the Czech Republic, this carefully imported pepper is once again checked on top food-grade machines using laser optics to ensure that you receive only the purest Kampot pepper quality that you deserve.

Cambodia is a country that, over the years we have been visiting it, we allow ourselves to call our second home. Nevertheless, it never ceases to amaze us with its diversity and variety, as well as some amusing facts we have learned about it. Angkor Wat on the flag The Angkor Wat temple located in Siem Reap province is probably the most famous place in Cambodia, attracting thousands of tourists every year. Besides being the largest religious complex in the world, Angkor is also the only building in the world that has been featured on a national flag. No Happy Meal Although Cambodian – or traditional Khmer cuisine – is not very well known to us, it is truly excellent. However, Europeans staying in the country for a longer time might miss proper “junk food” – Western fast food. The problem is that there is not a single McDonald's in the country. The most famous fast food chain simply failed to take root here. But there is no need to despair; Burger King succeeded.  For those who want to forget about “fast food” and try authentic Cambodia, we recommend visiting locals and tasting true Khmer cuisine, based on more than 2,000 varieties of rice, freshwater fish, and various types of vegetables and fruits. You might even find the real Kampot pepper in it, which you will truly grow fond of. :-) Geckos predict marriage The giant gecko is one of many animals you can encounter in the country. Locals actually keep them and even believe they can predict the future. Just as we pick daisy petals, Cambodians count gecko chirps to find out if they will be lucky or when they will get married. By the way, weddings usually last three days, which would be quite a celebration here. Funerals are a true ceremony Even bigger events than weddings for Cambodians are funerals. Although the average monthly income is about 100 dollars, funerals here cost on average 9,000 dollars. Moreover, the ceremony can last up to 49 days, during which the extended family gathers, usually contributing all their savings to make the final farewell as dignified as possible. Mines at every step Cambodia is still one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, and unfortunately, large funeral ceremonies often take place due to people stepping on mines. There are between 8 and 10 million mines scattered across the country. These are mainly in rural areas where tourists often do not venture – traveling in Cambodia is safe, and the Khmer themselves welcome every visitor with open arms. This is just one part of the bloody legacy of the Khmer Rouge, whose wounds Cambodia has not yet fully healed. Until this year, Cambodia’s gradual demining was aided by a brave male rat named Magawa, whose important work we ourselves supported. During his life, he detected more than a hundred mines in rural Cambodian areas. He died earlier this year, and although a new trained rat rescuer will eventually take his place, Magawa will remain in our hearts, and we are rightly proud of his work.

The longer we spend in a foreign country, the more memories we gather and the closer they become to our hearts. To continuously remind ourselves of the moments we experienced on our travels even after returning home, it is good to bring back several souvenirs from those places and take a small piece of the foreign land with us. If you want to remember Cambodia this way, we have a few tips for small items you can bring from the country that won’t just lie around on your shelf at home. Krama Krama is something you will encounter at every step in Cambodia. It is a multifunctional scarf that is one of the national symbols of the country. The krama has countless uses. Besides being a scarf, it is used for carrying children, covering the face, as a hammock for babies, as a mosquito net, to ward off insects, and for many other purposes. Traditional krama colors include red and white, but you can find a whole colorful palette of various designs. You can buy a krama on every corner, but choose those with higher weight and durability so the scarf lasts you as long as possible. Even here at home, you can wear it with love and definitely won’t look like an exotic person. :-) Upcycled Items Cambodia certainly does not belong to countries with a high standard of living, quite the opposite. The local inhabitants are mostly poorer and therefore look for various ways to make a living. One of these is the production of various items from waste. This activity reflects extraordinary Khmer craftsmanship, where artisans can create something beautiful even from what looks like utterly worthless waste at first glance. Most often these are decorative items, but you can also find everyday necessities such as wallets, dishes, clothing, and more. Tattoos If you want a truly permanent souvenir from Cambodia, get a traditional Khmer tattoo. These tattoos have deep symbolism and are done during a ceremony that imbues the tattoo with magical properties. Khmer tattoos are not just decoration; they have protective symbolism and become an integral part of you. David and Klárka both have their Khmer tattoos, and we jokingly—and maybe not so jokingly—like to say that they protect the entire .pepper..field. :-) Last but not least, bring back a few Kampot peppercorns from Cambodia for good luck. And if your suitcase is already full, don’t despair. Just visit our website and enjoy a proper piece of authentic Cambodia in your kitchen right away in several forms.

Now you can order our Kampot pepper and have it at home the same day! At your request, you can even add it to your purchase on Rohlík.cz. You'll never again accidentally cook without the best pepper in the world. :-) To make your journey to pepper as easy as possible Your favorite Kampot pepper can be found on Rohlík in all basic and select varieties – and we will continue to expand the portfolio for you. You can also look forward to gift sets you love the most, or specialties in the form of fresh peppers. We have selected a universal 50 g size in resealable, recyclable pouches with an elegant design, which among other things also serve as great pepper reservoirs for grinders – as they preserve maximum freshness.In the offer on  Rohlík.cz you will find our basic trio of dried peppers – black, red, and white, as well as unique types of select peppers – dark red pepper and green lyophilized pepper, which proudly holds the Golden Fork trophy from the worldwide gastronomic competition Great Taste Awards. Such a pepper portfolio will be enough to surprise even a Michelin-starred chef if they happen to visit you. For each of our peppers, we have written a detailed description and our recommendations for ideal use in the kitchen so you feel at home. And the prices on Rohlík are also ours, homey. We wish you a pleasant, peppery shopping experience!

Becoming a digital nomad is the dream of many people. Some grab their laptop, backpack, and head wherever their feet take them. However, some feel the need to gather as much information as possible in advance. If you belong to the latter group and would like to experience your nomadic adventure in Cambodia, you are at the right place. We bring you a few basic insights that you should keep in mind when one day you set out to fulfill your dreams, for example, in this sunny and smiling country. The internet is slow but available For every digital nomad, it is important to have food and drink, a place to lay their head, and stable internet. Cambodia has internet, but you must not rush it. So if you are one of those who consume mountains of gigabytes daily, it is better to stay in bigger cities. In surrounding areas, internet is available, but it will certainly test your patience. The good news is that internet connection in the country is cheap, so being online is not impossible. Do not underestimate health insurance In Cambodia, it really does not pay off to be without health insurance. Western-style hospital services are really very expensive. One unfortunate accident is enough — you fall off a motorcycle, twist your ankle on a walk, and it can cost you a significant part of your savings. Therefore, it is good to have quality travel insurance that covers all medical expenses. Learn the basics of the language This applies everywhere in the world — it is good to know at least a little of the local language. No matter how silly you might feel, learn at least a few words. Locals will see that you are making an effort and want to immerse yourself in their culture and get closer to them. Keep notes on your phone and learn greetings and farewells, names of some dishes, and a few basic questions. It is always useful to study numbers as well. Try ordering your food in their language and you will see that you almost immediately break the ice in the entire restaurant. Study the history There is nothing better than knowing the history of the place where you find yourself. You can then connect everything into context and, just like with the language, show locals that the place is not just a holiday destination you came to waste time in. Explore Cambodia thoroughly and you will see that it will reward you with its endless smile. But beware, you might then want to hang up your digital nomad life and stay here permanently. :-)

Valentine's Day is approaching and we have prepared a selection of the best for you. You no longer have to think about complicated product combinations. Three Valentine's sets hide pepper delicacies inside, which even the most passionate and demanding will enjoy! The giver will also be pleased with the advantageous price of the entire package and the feeling that they gave something truly exceptional. Liquid Love As is well known, love mainly passes through the stomach. And it doesn't have to be just food that pleases the lover. Warm your stomachs with rebellious nørGin, which will awaken true passions in you, or just enjoy a digestif with your great Valentine's dinner. A true beer connoisseur might certainly be interested to know that we have a golden treasure awarded with this year's gold in the Cervesia Specialis beer specialty competition! The pepper beer PEPPER YOUR SAISON is a hit that almost made a small brewery out of us – loved by both beer conservatives and alternative experimenters. Toast your love with a wonderfully peppered classic. What would Valentine’s be without chocolate? We at .pepper..field also love chocolate. Even more so when it is made from quality, fair trade imported cocoa beans using the Bean-to-Bar method – which means it was made from A to Z here in the Czech Republic by the most skilled hands! We believe you will fall in love with exactly such chocolate too. Try all three types of delicate chocolates from the family chocolate factory Herufek with our crushed red pepper, or experience a spicy challenge coated in delicious white chocolate with almonds from Steiner & Kovarik. These could also be called our new chocobombs, each ball hiding a grain of lyophilized Kampot pepper. Whether your partner is a classic or likes unusual combinations, you will have a great pepper chocolate surprise for your chocolate lover! Healthy treats for nut lovers Enjoy fluffy pleasures with our .pepper..butters! For several years we have been cooperating with a small company from Prostějov – Barenuts – and we are convinced that they make the finest vegan nut butters from nuts of only premium quality. With a pinch of Kampot pepper, it becomes a true gourmet delight that turns ordinary oatmeal into a perfect morning ritual. Although it is a sweet delicacy, nut butters are full of healthy fats and minerals naturally found in nuts, and Barenuts uses only organic white and dark chocolate in their blends. Supplement your daily nutritional values with something worthwhile and enjoy healthy treats even on St. Valentine's Day. ❤

It feels like it was just yesterday when we decided to create our first limited edition .pepper..gin with mango and Kampot pepper. The bottles with this exotic delicacy quickly sold out, so we decided to repeat our endeavor, but this time to create a work so unique that few can match it on the Czech market. During its creation, we reached out to many of our friends with whom we had previously collaborated. To the experts Ondra and Petr from the Landcraft distillery, we added Michal from the Heršffek Chocolate Factory with his perfect fairtrade cocoa beans and unique Bean-to-Bar chocolate production, as well as the peel from Sicilian organic oranges from Mr. Olšák of ChuťSicílie. We extracted all the essences of these perfect ingredients and blended them into a single whole into a very fine distillate of a new category: nørGin. It is an exotic compilation of unexpected flavor tones that will take you into a completely new world of gin experience. Juniper? Don’t expect it in this case. We truly completely reworked the basics of gin and built them on the unique Kampot green pepper, which makes all the flavor sensations dance and slightly sharpens them. NørGin will load you with a distinctly good mood, and you can return it back to him. Its Package we supplemented with a range of stickers made from recycled materials, which were designed for us by the Butterflies&Hurricanes studio. With their help, you can decorate your bottle of nørGin exactly as you imagine and allow the bottle to proclaim the message of this gin even after there is not a drop left in the bottle. Life is simply too short to drink without the possibility of sticking stickers with a sustainable impact around you. And believe us, thanks to 47% alcohol, they will stick everywhere. ☺

We became guests of one of the most watched internet televisions in the Czech Republic, which has received several awards for its news and journalistic activities in the viewer poll Crystal Lupa. We went through a tough screening and answered all the curious questions of reporter Michael Rozsypal. Did we defend our Kampot pepper as the best in the world? How did we go from 12 farming families to the current number of 203 families under our wings? And who oversees everything in Cambodia when we are on the other side of the world? Listen to our interview on DVTV, which has been among the most watched in recent weeks. We won’t lie to you, when the invitation to DVTV came, we were extremely happy. Not everyone is invited to this television – for us, it is also feedback that our work in the Czech Republic really means something and has a global impact. That’s why we didn’t hesitate and accepted the invitation.  “We came a bit boldly to the president of the Kampot Pepper Association in Cambodia and told him what we had planned. The first interview with him was quite reserved, but then he completely changed and lit up,” describes David the beginnings of the .pepper..field project. “At the beginning, the situation was complicated also because the borders were almost closed – which is logical after everything Cambodia went through,” Klára recalls.  Do you agree with Klára and David that even today quality pepper is worth its weight in gold? Watch our full interview. Although we have already done several interviews for various TV channels, this time it was different and we must admit that we were also touched by a slight feeling of nervousness. We really are on DVTV! All the more we are pleased that our interview is so popular. We thank you all for the wave of support expressed in the comments and on social networks. We are proud of our amazing .pepper..family that we have in you.