Chillies
A member of the nightshade family, chillies are known for their unique spice and flavour. Despite their fiery “hotness”, chillies are one of the very popular spices known for their medicinal and health benefiting properties.
Chillies contain an impressive list of plant derived chemical compounds that are known to have disease preventing and health promoting properties. Their health benefiting alkaloid compound, capsaicin, gives them their strong spicy pungent character. Early laboratory studies suggest that capsaicin has anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, analgesic and anti-diabetic properties. It’s also found to reduce cholesterol levels.
Our UK Cropping facility produces a wide range of chillies, from the mildest varieties to the very hottest from April to November. We started growing British chillies in 2015, and have trialled over 280 different varieties. Working with astronomical weather data, we endeavour to maximise yield and quality in our glasshouse structures.
Our programme in Barfoots Senegal also provides large quantities of quality chillies across the full varietal range, transported by road and sea to our UK HQ to minimise carbon. We supplement our year round supply from India when required.