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Black Kampot Pepper

Cambodia – This week, trials began for officials of the Khmer Rouge, the communist regime that held Cambodia in a state of terror in the 1970s and was responsible for the deaths of almost a fifth of the country’s population.  Many months ago, I visited Cambodia and brought back some Kampot pepper with me from the farmer collective Farmlink.  When I was back in New York I passed out a few packages of the pepper to people whom I thought might be interested in the stuff.  Recently, I was overjoyed to find that superstar pastry chef Michael Laiskonis of Le Bernardin had a chance to play around with the pepper and posted a recipe for Kampot Pepper Ice Cream on his blog.

As Cambodia struggles to reckon with its past, it is also looking towards to future, trying to create jobs and educational opportunities.  Kampot pepper may be the first Cambodia product to acquire geographical indication status.  I’m hoping this local product gains a following outside France, its old colonizer under which the region’s pepper first became famous.  As much as I admire charity work in developing countries, I can’t help but think that a unique, homegrown and self-sustaining industry could do a world of good for a country looking to get back on its feet.