Our Black Urfa Chili comes from Urfa, Turkey, where it has been grown and cured for centuries. It has a rich, malty flavor with a lingering burn. The chilis ripen to a bright red color, then are laid out under sheets in the hot summer sun. This technique cures the pepper in its own juices and gives it a deep umami flavor and beautiful dark color. Great in stews, tomato sauces, salad dressings, chocolate desserts or sprinkled over fluffy scrambled eggs.
Please note that the Black Urfa Chili contains a little sunflower oil and may appear to be slightly clumpy or wet. There's nothing to be concerned about — it's all part of what makes the chili so delicious!
Highlights
Urfa, Turkey
Urfa biber, isot
Cured in the sun and stone-ground
Urfa Chili (Capsicum annuum), sunflower seed oil, salt (salt content is 1% by weight, or about 0.5 grams per jar)
Raisin • Espresso • Summer Night
Cooking tips
- Heat level: 5,000-10,000 Scoville units
- Sprinkle over roasted vegetables, eggs, or cooked proteins
- Stir into brownie batter or chocolate cookie dough
- Mix into hummus or other creamy dips
RECIPES
SOURCING
Black Urfa Chili starts out as a red, sweet, spicy pepper almost identical to the more famous Aleppo pepper. It's grown in the hills around the ancient Turkish city of Urfa, where the hot, dry days, cold nights and sandy soil are part of its unique terroir. After harvesting, it's cured in the sun, where it changes color from red to black and develops its characteristic flavor profile, reminiscent of chocolate and dried fruits, with a lingering burn. It goes through a final stone-grinding step, where it's ground into flakes between massive granite wheels with a little bit of sea salt and sunflower seed oil. The oil helps preserve its natural texture and flavor and prevents it from drying out (and is delicious, too!).
Meet the Farmer: Bekir Bey is a chili pepper farmer just outside the city of Urfa, and in this photo he was out picking peppers in the blazing 104-degree heat. He and his family cultivate about 12 acres of chili peppers, almost all of which will be cut up, fermented and ground into the famous Black Urfa Chili Flakes. They spend about 10 months of the year planning, planting, tending, watering and harvesting these very special chili peppers. The combination of pepper variety (same as an Aleppo/Silk Chili), sandy soil, hot dry climate and very particular fermentation method all come together to create a pepper unlike any other in the world.
HEALTH BENEFITS
While we do not make any health claims on any of our spices, there has been some historic and limited recent evidence that chilis can potentially be helpful for:
- Cancers: Capsaicin shows potential natural cytotoxic and anticancer properties. (A, B, C, D, E, F, G)
- Increased Longevity: Several studies have shown a significant decrease in mortality associated with regular consumption of chili peppers. (A, B, C)
- Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension and Cholesterol: Diets containing chili peppers have shown a correlation with decreased cardiovascular mortality, improved blood pressure and potential for cholesterol reduction. (A, B, C, D)
- Osteoarthritis/Pain: Utilizing capsaicin shows potential improvement associated with chronic osteoarthritis pain, post-herpetic neuralgia and neuropathy. (A, B, C)
- Digestive Health: Chili peppers and capsaicin have been shown to have a gastroprotective effect in peptic ulcer disease, a beneficial effect on human gut microbiota and gastric emptying, and a potential to improve dysphagia symptoms. (A, B, C, D, E, F)
- Obesity: Regular consumption of capsaicinoids show a reduction in appetite and abdominal fat tissue levels, and an increase of energy expenditure. (A, B, C, D, E, F)
- Antimicrobial Benefits: Chilis inhibit various microbial pathogen growth, and have the potential to be used as antimicrobials. (A, B, C, D)
- Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes: The target receptor of capsaicin (TRPV1) is present on many metabolically active tissues, and may show potential to treat the cluster of risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome and help regulate blood sugar levels. (A, B)
Further clinical studies are warranted and in progress. Please always consult your healthcare provider. This is not intended as medical advice.
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United StatesInstant addiction
Black lime, black urfa chili, cured sumac, grains of paradise. How have I lived this long without them? And all the other spices. So so good.
United StatesUrfa.... Yeah!
Where has this been all my life? Great smokiness, tang and a nice lingering spiciness. Tried it on my omelettes and leveled them up big time. I’m ready to buy this by the lb. now.
United StatesChili goes in almost everything
I’ve used this chili alongside a couple others for both savory dishes (Dutch pot chicken, sauces, pesto), and more recently, my sweet bread (chocolate and chili is the best). Unlike the store bought spices which is quite overwhelming and who knows how old, Burlap and Barrel has a perfect selection that allows the new cook (ie. Me) and seasoned ones (haha) alike to feel comfortable to add a number of spices without the worry that you might mess up your dish. From someone who never liked cooking before, I look forward to digging into my spices to see what I can make next!
United StatesPhenomenal Flavor
Black urfa chili is such a wonderful addition to so many dishes. I use it on probably 2/3 of our meals, such a fantastic spice and so different than anything I've ever had before.
United StatesA Truly Next Level Spice Company
I have fallen head over heals for this company. I can find reasonably good spices in many places locally and online, but this company takes it so much further. Not only are their spices more vibrant in both flavor and color, they truly bring the well being of the farmers they source from into the mix. As consumers we should care about where our food comes from. Sourcing from a company that prioritizes this is the way it should be done. If all of that wasn't enough, they continually come up with interesting varietals and blends that have not typically been in the spotlight. So glad I found them!