---
title: "Aleppo Peppers"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/6337aa35-6b48-4868-82f6-922e8145f362
source_url: "https://judithfinlayson.com/aleppo-peppers/"
stack: https://stacklist.com/c/food/stack/cde02fa2-4260-422e-9787-610eda097ad0
summary: "Aleppo pepper, a beloved Syrian chile with a mild, fruity flavor, has become unavailable for export due to the ongoing conflict in the region around Aleppo. The article reflects on the author's personal connection to the spice and notes that Turkish Maras pepper now serves as a substitute, while growers in places like Queensland, Australia work to keep the variety alive."
tags: "aleppo-pepper, syrian-cuisine, spices, middle-eastern-cooking, maras-pepper, food-culture, war-impact"
key_entities: "Aleppo pepper (concept), Maras pepper (concept), Aleppo (location), Syria (location), Phillipe de Vienne (person), Epices de Cru (organization), Jean Talon Market (location), Montreal (location), Rebecca Johnston (person), chilli-seedz.com (organization), Queensland, Australia (location)"
classification: "notes"
content_hash: "sha256:33be70643e2a63da9c1fda35ba674795c11d138fb06028792cbdd7f0812d5cb1"
acp_version: "0.2"
token_counts_approximate: 530
visibility: public
agent_accessible: true
status: "final"
---

# Aleppo Peppers

Do you ever stop to think that all the casualties of war aren’t just human lives? Take Aleppo pepper, for instance. It’s a Syrian chile, dried and crushed with a mild, fruity flavor and it’s one of my favorites. It has been grown in that country for centuries.  Sadly, because it is traditionally cultivated in the war-torn region around Aleppo, the city for which it is named, this pepper is no longer available for export. Most suppliers now substitute Turkish Maras pepper. The Maras pepper is a very close relative – probably even the same variety — and it is grown in a very similar terroir, so for culinary purposes, if properly grown, it is probably a satisfactory swap. But I am grieving the loss of the authentic Aleppo. I discovered it many years ago in Montreal; Phillipe de Vienne, an extremely knowledgeable spice vendor, imported it for his shop Epices de Cru in the Jean Talon market. At the time, I was experimenting with a Middle Eastern cooking and was immediately smitten by the pepper’s sweet yet spicy flavor. I associate it with a time in my life when I was learning about Middle Eastern cuisine and exploring other regional spices and herbs such as sumac and za’atar.  It is part of my memory bank — like Proust’s madeleines – and in some ways, I feel like I have lost a friend. If peace ever returns to Syria I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the farmers will return to their land and our supply of authentic Aleppo pepper will begin again.  In the meantime, chile growers are keeping the variety alive. Thanks to chile grower extraordinaire, Rebecca, Johnston at chilli-seedz.com for cultivating the Aleppo pepper in Queensland Australia, and also for her beautiful photo.  Save Save Save Save Save Save Share this: Print (Opens in new window) Print Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Share on X (Opens in new window) X Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Posted in My Favorite Things . Judith