Gourmet Pantry

Since its creation in 1921, Pickapeppa Sauce has established itself as an international legend. A must-have sauce for knowing connoisseurs, Pickapeppa Sauce is like Jamaica itself, a mixture of diverse worldwide cultural influences, through cuisine, music, dance and art.

Jamaicans today are descendants of people from around the world who settled on the island and mixed together. Pickapeppa Sauce is produced in much the same way, a combination of fine ingredients selected from seven countries to ensure the best possible quality… a unique blend of tomatoes, onions, sugar, cane vinegar, mangoes, raisins, peppers and spices. This blend is then aged in oak barrels for one full year before bottling to ensure the rich flavour that Pickapeppa’s admirers so love.

Only 100% natural ingredients are used. Cane vinegar is used as a natural preservative.

The Classic Jamaican Sauce! Pickapeppa Sauce’s sweet, mellow flavour of cane vinegar makes it a perfect compliment to almost any dish from appetizer to entrée to dessert.

A sophisticated range of sauces for chilli- loving foodies, made in Australia.

As lifelong chilliphiles, the creators of Red Clipper lamented the lack of flavour and fire in most chilli sauces, one usually sacrificed for the other. They also believed that sauce bottles should command pride of place on the dining table, and look the part too.

So they created an uncompromising range of chilli sauces with the finest ingredients, to do justice to this fiery little fruit.

This rich and full bodied sauce balances the fieriness of bird’s eye chillies, spiciness of Cayenne and fruitiness of the Habanero to create Red Clipper’s classic medium-hot chilli and tomato combination. It is a classic chilli sauce that is at home with anything from steaks, tacos and burgers to chips, pasta sauce and marinades. This can also be used to whip up a mean Bloody Mary.

Lucia’s tomato based products are only made seasonally over the summer months while the Australian tomatoes are at their best, ensuring freshness quality and a great product and most importantly a unique and fresh tomato flavour.

Australia's southern climate is perfect for producing sweet flavour filled tomatoes. Lucia‘s has a purpose built haccap approved tomato manufacturing facility.

The perfect accompaniment for roasts, this delicious old-fashioned gravy is made with our free-range chicken stock.

We simmer the stock with vegetables and herbs, then reduce and thicken the liquid. The result is a gravy with a remarkable depth of flavour. Simply heat and pour generously over roast chicken, turkey or other meats.

- Gluten free
- All natural
- Free of additives, e-numbers and preservatives
- Made with our grass fed beef stock and free range chicken broth

Take your tastebuds to Mexico with small-batch, hand-crafted cooking sauces.

When two Mexican expats gave their friend a jar of homemade salsa, he promptly advised them to go into business - and La Fundidora was born.

Each batch is made in small quantities by hand, without chemicals, sweeteners or artificial acidifiers. And even though the ingredients look simple, each cooking sauce shows incredible depth of flavour and character - which is all part of the alchemy.

Escuminac amber, a richly-flavoured syrup, is produced in very small quantities, making it rare. Golden in colour with bright highlights, it is the finest in our range of products. Produced exclusively with sap harvested during the first days of the sap run, rare Escuminac amber is an exceptional syrup with a smooth, velvety texture. It is light in the mouth, featuring a subtle caramel and honeysuckle bouquet with a hint of cinnamon and a lingering flavour.

A sophisticated range of sauces for chilli- loving foodies, made in Australia.

As lifelong chilliphiles, the creators of Red Clipper lamented the lack of flavour and fire in most chilli sauces, one usually sacrificed for the other. They also believed that sauce bottles should command pride of place on the dining table, and look the part too.

So they created an uncompromising range of chilli sauces with the finest ingredients, to do justice to this fiery little fruit.

This is a version of a thick Carribean style hot sauce bursting with aromatic spices. The heat of the Habaneros and a subtle sweetness that evokes the flavours of Jamaica. This delicious Jamaican style sauce is the perfect blend of chilli and spice. Use as a marinade with barbequed, grilled, jerked and roasted meats. Great in curries, North African dishes, or simply use as a condiment.

Sansho berries come from Japan and are essential to traditional and authentic Japanese cuisine. They have been used since antiquity when they were used to flavour food offered to the gods.

The Japanese believe that Sansho berries were already used in Japanese cooking as far back as the ancient Jomon era (from 15,000 BC up until 300 BC). At that time, Japan was inhabited by hunter-gatherers. Nowadays the Japanese call them "SANAHO" or "HAJIKAMI". Sansho berries are a true gift of nature and are reason enough to warrant a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Sansho berries are harvested south of Kobe in Wakayama prefecture on Honshu Island. The best time to harvest them is in July and August.

Japanese have traditionally ground the dried berries and used it to enhance the flavours of noodles with soup, grilled eel (unagi) or in the traditional 7-spice mix called: "SHICHIMI". 

Their delicate citrus scents and notes of mandarin leaves go perfectly with sweet and sour dishes, lobster, poached poultry, exotic fruit salad or sprinkled over sticky chocolate cake. In Japan, one of the local delicacies is Kobe beef with Sansho berries.

Lucia’s tomato based products are only made seasonally over the summer months while the Australian tomatoes are at their best, ensuring freshness quality and a great product and most importantly a unique and fresh tomato flavour.

Australia's southern climate is perfect for producing sweet flavour filled tomatoes. Lucia‘s has a purpose built haccap approved tomato manufacturing facility.

Made with olives grown on the banks of the Murray River, where the Mediterranean climate and fertile red soils guarantee premium quality.

Our Extra Virgin Olive Oil is cold pressed within hours of harvesting, so they retain their character and health benefits, then they are skilfully blended to meet the flavour profile of each oil.

A blend of the estate's most robust olive varieties, this oil is packed with deep fruity aromas and full-bodied flavours.

Rich and appealing, this oil is best enjoyed when drizzled over pasta dishes or salad leaves, added to tomato-based sauces or simply for dipping crusty bread.

Made with olives grown on the banks of the Murray River, where the Mediterranean climate and fertile red soils guarantee premium quality.

Our Extra Virgin Olive Oil is cold pressed within hours of harvesting, so they retain their character and health benefits, then they are skilfully blended to meet the flavour profile of each oil.

A blend of the estate's leading olive varieties, this medium-bodied oil has appealing fresh fruity aromas and rich penetrating flavours.

This multi-purpose fruity oil is ideal for sauteing, grilling, roasting vegetables and making salad dressings or simply for dipping crusty bread.

Pastificio dei Campi is located in Gragnano, an exceptional place for pasta production, where industrial development has led to the loss - partial at least - of the magic linked to the art of this white gold. Our firm aims to restore and sustain the tradition of Gragnano pasta IGP, and seeks to do this in a way that respects craftsmanship and traditional production methods, allowing the raw ingredients and stages of production all the time they need to create a pasta of the very highest quality, the best pasta ever.

The Eliche di Gragnano is bronze drawn, produced with 100% Italian wheat, dried at low temperature in static cells and packaged by hand

Best Before: 18 May 2024

The Stock Merchant Provisions is a collection of ethical, quality fare for everyday dining. We believe in real food, and we work closely with producers who provide us with superb ingredients.

The food world is buzzing about premium tinned fish – the modern answer to delicious, practical and protein-packed meals that are easy to enjoy anywhere. The Stock Merchant Provisions offers four fine options, sustainably wild-caught in the Atlantic and hand-cured using delicious Portuguese methods.

Our premium tinned seafood is ready to serve as a quick lunch, canapé or dinner. They’re extra-sensational when served with shallots, avocado, herbs and a generous dash of lemon.

- Wild-caught MSC-certified tuna
- Preserved in certified organic extra virgin olive oil
- Traditional Portuguese preserving method
- Hand filleted and packed
- Sustainable, wild and traceable seafood

Campoverde Balsamic Vinegars of Modena PGI are refined condiments carefully created by Antichi Colli for the most discerning palates.

These exquisite dressings are produced in the Modena area to the finest quality standards, reflected by the quantity of must used and the ageing in small wooden casks. They are perfect in combination with classical, innovative, or fusion cuisine.

This balsamic vinegar of Modena is intense and smooth and contains more than 50% cooked grape must. Ideal for risottos, braised meat and seafood.

Ingredients: Cooked grape must, wine vinegar

Acidity: 6%

Campoverde Balsamic Vinegars of Modena PGI are refined condiments carefully created by Antichi Colli for the most discerning palates.

These exquisite dressings are produced in the Modena area to the finest quality standards, reflected by the quantity of must used and the ageing in small wooden casks. They are perfect in combination with classical, innovative, or fusion cuisine.

This balsamic vinegar of Modena has a bittersweet and balanced taste. Made only with high-quality organic ingredients. Ideal for salads, as vinaigrette or with risotto.

Ingredients: Organic wine vinegar, organic cooked grape must

Acidity: 6%

Take your tastebuds to Mexico with small-batch, hand-crafted cooking sauces.

When two Mexican expats gave their friend a jar of homemade salsa, he promptly advised them to go into business - and La Fundidora was born.

Each batch is made in small quantities by hand, without chemicals, sweeteners or artificial acidifiers. And even though the ingredients look simple, each cooking sauce shows incredible depth of flavour and character - which is all part of the alchemy.

Take your tastebuds to Mexico with small-batch, hand-crafted salsas.

When two Mexican expats gave their friend a jar of homemade salsa, he promptly advised them to go into business - and La Fundidora was born.

Each batch is made in small quantities by hand, without chemicals, sweeteners or artificial acidifiers. And even though the ingredients look simple, each salsa shows incredible depth of flavour and character - which is all part of the alchemy.

A perfect combination of smooth and crunch; Noya Nut Butter ABC will give you something to sing about! Hand-picked almonds, brazil nuts, and cashews, lightly roasted to perfection, then crushed and blended together to create a deliciously addictive, naturally sweet spread. You’ll love the velvety, smooth texture from the AB, the crunch from the C. And the rhythm kick in when you sing, “1,2,3” and “do, re, mi”.

One of the originals, this tasty butter will show you some seriously smooth moves. Premium hand-picked Australian grown almonds, lightly dry-roasted to perfection then crushed and blended, creating a naturally sweet, seriously creamy staple for your pantry.  This soft, silky Almond Noya nut butter spread is perfect in every meal and on the end of every spoon. Spread it far and wide. 

Since its creation in 1921, Pickapeppa Sauce has established itself as an international legend. A must-have sauce for knowing connoisseurs, Pickapeppa Sauce is like Jamaica itself, a mixture of diverse worldwide cultural influences, through cuisine, music, dance and art.

Jamaicans today are descendants of people from around the world who settled on the island and mixed together. Pickapeppa Sauce is produced in much the same way, a combination of fine ingredients selected from seven countries to ensure the best possible quality… a unique blend of tomatoes, onions, sugar, cane vinegar, mangoes, raisins, peppers and spices. This blend is then aged in oak barrels for one full year before bottling to ensure the rich flavour that Pickapeppa’s admirers so love.

Only 100% natural ingredients are used. Cane vinegar is used as a natural preservative.

The ultimate explosion of mango flavour and fire… HOT! HOT! HOT!

A sophisticated range of sauces for chilli- loving foodies, made in Australia.

As lifelong chilliphiles, the creators of Red Clipper lamented the lack of flavour and fire in most chilli sauces, one usually sacrificed for the other. They also believed that sauce bottles should command pride of place on the dining table, and look the part too.

So they created an uncompromising range of chilli sauces with the finest ingredients, to do justice to this fiery little fruit.

The blend of the herbaceous capsicum flavour of the Jalapeno chilli with the tartness of green tomatoes, together with the zing of fresh lime and coriander, this sauce is Red Clipper’s very own homage to Mexico. This is a mild to medium sauce with a vibrant tangy citrus burst. It can be used with any and all Mexican flavours and is also brilliant when splashed on chicken dishes, burgers and your morning eggs.

She's the spicy cousin to the bread & butter pickle and she means business. Subtle on the sweet side but with a surprising kick of mouth-watering habanero heat - this brined beauty brings a bit of bang to your next epic burger.

Zaatar (or Zathar) is a spice mix from Byblos in Lebanon, one of the oldest towns in the world, founded in 5000 B.C. During the 3rd century B.C. Byblos traded extensively with Egypt exporting cedar wood needed for Egyptian shipbuilding, resin for mummification, wine and papyrus.

The Phoenician city was an inevitable economic, political and cultural crossroads. When Alexander the Great arrived, its Semitic name “Gebal” was replaced by “Byblos” from “biblion” in Greek which means scroll, due to the papyrus scrolls exported from Byblos. This is also where the name of the Bible comes from.

Zaatar is very widely used in Lebanon, in Syria and throughout the Mediterranean. It is made from 3 ingredients which are highly typical of the Middle East, sesame, thyme, sumac, and is traditionally eaten as a mezze with bread which is dipped in olive oil and then in zaatar.

Deliciously simple, it’s perfect for your pre-dinner drinks. Its acidic, aromatic and slightly salty taste is also ideal for enhancing white meat and poultry. It can also be used in marinades, and its lemony warmth will complement your fish dishes. Use it in cooking, or simply for seasoning at the table, you won’t regret it!

Ingredients: Sumac, golden sesame, white sesame, thyme, salt.

Saffron, which gets its name from the Persian "zapharan" meaning "stigmas", is a spice which comes from the three stigmas from the Crocus sativus. Originally from the Middle East, it was first grown 4,000 years ago in the Greek provinces.

Considered the most expensive spice in the world, saffron is rare due to the extremely tedious harvesting process and its very low yield. Roughly 150,000 crocus flowers are needed to obtain just 1kg of saffron.

Very sought after by gastronomes for its extraordinary flavour and colour, saffron is considered the crown jewel of the spice kingdom.

Harvesting requires patience and dexterity and is carried out very carefully when the crocus blooms, which only lasts 2 to 3 weeks. Local women delicately handpick these flowers which only last a day before wilting. Then comes the intricate process of removing the stigmas from the flowers, keeping intact the most aromatic part of the flower, using an extremely precise and age-old technique.

The red stigma of the mauve coloured crocus has surprising aromas of cedar, pepper and flowers, bringing together warmth, intensity and a delicate sweetness. It leaves gourmets spellbound and is a must-have for any chef in search of a Michelin star.

Garam Masala is found in many types of meat and vegetable curry recipes. It can be mixed with yoghurt as a delicious sauce or added to desserts (such as doughnuts, rice pudding, fruit salads, and more!).

When ground with a mortar and pestle, it will spice up sautéed chicken, a spicy soup, a vegetable tart or Indian-style fish dishes. In Hindi, Garam means “spicy” and Masala means “spice mix”. It’s a roasted spice mix which is widely used in North Indian cuisine and has enchanted the rest of India and Pakistan. Here's what you'll need to make your own Garam Masala mix: fenugreek, cinnamon, fennel, black pepper, green cardamom, coriander.

Ingredients: Fenugreek, cinnamon, fennel, black pepper, green cardamom, coriander

This delightful mix of fleur de sel and lime zest releases fresh citrus notes. Ideal with fish, king prawns, a shrimp and avocado salad or with fresh grapefruit.

Add a few pinches to your Asian dishes, chicken tagine, shortcrust pastry for a lemon meringue pie or simply sprinkle over raw vegetables for a zesty salad. 

The light and gentle texture of fleur de sel mean it dissolves quicker and blends more easily with all your dishes. Best used after cooking to maintain all the delicate aromas of the fleur de sel. This fleur de sel from Madagascar is hand collected from the salt ponds in Ifaty which benefits from ideal weather conditions. These white crystals form a fine crust on the surface of the salt ponds when the water evaporates due to the sun and wind.

Ingredients: Fleur de sel, lime

Lucia’s tomato based products are only made seasonally over the summer months while the Australian tomatoes are at their best, ensuring freshness quality and a great product and most importantly a unique and fresh tomato flavour.

Australia's southern climate is perfect for producing sweet flavour filled tomatoes. Lucia‘s has a purpose built haccap approved tomato manufacturing facility.

We slowly reduce our Grass Fed Beef Stock with red wine, a dash of port and thyme. The result is a Red Wine Jus with a remarkable depth and concentration of flavour. Simply heat and pour around steak, roasts, lamb rack or any other red meat dish.

- Gluten free
- All natural
- Free of additives, e-numbers and preservatives
- Made with our grass fed beef stock and free range chicken broth

From Basque with Love was started with the dream to handcraft delicious, natural, healthy and easy to prepare meals for every pantry in Australia.

Easy, delicious and 100% natural

Cooking Instructions
Heat 1 tbs of vegetable oil over medium heat, add 1 cup of lentils and fry for 1 minute. Add 3 cups of boiling water and 2 tablespoons of diced tomatoes and cook for 50 minutes or until lentils are done and gravy thickened, add extra water if needed. Serve on its own with rice or as an accompaniment to a tagine, meat or fish. For a bit of extra flavour add carrot and potato along with the water and zucchini and eggplant for the last 10 minutes.

Ingredients
Puy lentils, garlic, shallots, salt, our secret blend of Moroccan spices and love.

All the goodness of the miller’s table in a cracker. 60% fruit, nuts and seeds in the thinnest, crispiest, slice of toast-shaped cracker.

Slim and ultra crispy (baked twice like biscotti). Made with dried fruits, nuts and healthy seeds, honey and 100% extra virgin olive oil. Eat alone or with cheese - the perfect nibble anytime of day.

Blissful with Brie. Breathtaking with Blue Cheese. Slim and ultra-crispy, for spreading, or nibbling.

The Stock Merchant Provisions is a collection of ethical, quality fare for everyday dining. We believe in real food, and we work closely with producers who provide us with superb ingredients.

The food world is buzzing about premium tinned fish – the modern answer to delicious, practical and protein-packed meals that are easy to enjoy anywhere. The Stock Merchant Provisions offers four fine options, sustainably wild-caught in the Atlantic and hand-cured using delicious Portuguese methods.

Our premium tinned seafood is ready to serve as a quick lunch, canapé or dinner. They’re extra-sensational when served with shallots, avocado, herbs and a generous dash of lemon.

- Wild-caught MSC-certified smoked sardines
- Preserved in certified organic extra virgin olive oil
- Traditional Portuguese preserving method
- Hand filleted and packed
- Sustainable, wild and traceable seafood

The Stock Merchant Provisions is a collection of ethical, quality fare for everyday dining. We believe in real food, and we work closely with producers who provide us with superb ingredients.

The food world is buzzing about premium tinned fish – the modern answer to delicious, practical and protein-packed meals that are easy to enjoy anywhere. The Stock Merchant Provisions offers four fine options, sustainably wild-caught in the Atlantic and hand-cured using delicious Portuguese methods.

Our premium tinned seafood is ready to serve as a quick lunch, canapé or dinner. They’re extra-sensational when served with shallots, avocado, herbs and a generous dash of lemon.

- Wild-caught MSC-certified sardines
- Preserved in certified organic extra virgin olive oil
- Traditional Portuguese preserving method
- Hand filleted and packed
- Sustainable, wild and traceable seafood

Country: Spain
Region: Rioja
Varieties of Olives: 40% Royuela 60% Arbequina

The Marques de Vargas Olives are cultivated using organic farming methods that do not allow the use of chemicals, fertilizers, weed killers or other products that generate toxic residues that harm the environment.

Among the many features of this exquisite EVOO, it was created with a unique blend of the Royuela and Arbequina Olives. Aberquina is considered one of the most exquisite, because of its marked fruity and slightly pronounced bitterness and pungency. These flavours leave a sweet feeling, very accustomed to the taste of less consumption of olive oil tastes. The Royuela is known for its richness in bitter and pungent features.

Green-yellowish in appearance, the EVOO exudes intense aromas of green fruits, freshly cut grass and figs. It possesses great balance between herbal and fruity notes with a slightly sweet palate entry and spicy bitterness at the finish. An excellent combination where Royuela brings more complexity to the Aberquina.

Serving Suggestions: Drizzle on a plate of ham or marinate olives with garlic and herbs.

The Honey Project honey is sourced from the central regions of Victoria, run by a family-owned beekeeping business, who have been beekeeping for five generations. Each jar of The Honey Project’s honey is unpasteurised, unfiltered and raw, maintaining its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The Messmate (or Stringybark) honey all come from the south of Daylesford, producing a darker, richer and bolder honey that won’t get lost in any cooked dishes, but is also great on its own for people who love the intensity of honey.

Original Escuminac syrup is a dark syrup produced at the end of the harvest. Intensely dark, it is purely delicious. With notes of rye, caramel and roasted sugar, it is perfect for your recipes; use it in simmered dishes, pastries or to spice up your salad dressings.

In Canada, maple syrup is available in five different categories. The main grading criterion is the colour, expressed in terms of the degree of light transmission. The later the harvest, the darker the syrup; it also becomes less complex, and has a more pronounced caramel flavour.

Its name comes from "Voa" which means fruit in Malagasy and "Tsiperifery" which is the name of the plant. It's a very rare pepper that is harvested by hand by the local Malagasy villagers from June to August.

Voatsiperifery grows in the wild in the tropical forests of South-East Madagascar. It is difficult and dangerous to pick as the creeper grows as high as 30m and the berries only grow at the top seeking the sun. The pepper's flavour has a fruity base with strong notes of burned herbs. It makes a delicious companion for all your chocolate desserts, and adds a toasty peppery kick!

Viking salt is apparently a culinary heritage of these formidable warriors. In love with adventure, riches, and war, the Vikings, aboard their fearsome longships, conquered Europe, Russia, the Mediterranean coast and the northern part of the American continent in the 10th century!

Viking salt from Egersund (a charming Norwegian fishing port on the edge of the majestic fjords) is a mixture of salt, curry and black pepper. The recipe had initially faded into obscurity but was recently rediscovered and recreated. 

It has an intense, smoky aroma, reminiscent of the forests of the Great North and of sea spray. Both strong and delicate at the same time, it goes well with potatoes, hard-boiled eggs and, of course, salmon.

This Nepalese pepper is picked from small trees from the Zanthoxylum armatum species, which grow in the wild in the Mahabharat range. With its fresh and citrus notes, it is easy to see why some call it the grapefruit pepper. This little berry is used in all dishes from the Teraï lowlands of southern Nepal.

Known as the birthplace of Buddha, it is amongst the Tharu villages of thatched mud huts that these thorny bushes unfold their treasure at altitudes of 2,000m.
Its exotic notes and aromas of candied lemon, grapefruit and lemongrass enhance scallops, roast lobster served with citrus butter, chicken or a simple citrus fruit salad.

Sprinkle it cracked lightly into your dishes just before serving.

This spice mix gets its name from the tandoor clay oven that is traditionally dug into the ground. This oven is used in Northern India and Afghanistan for cooking naan bread and the famous tandoori chicken. In India, cooking is a true art, with recipes and expertise passed down from generation to generation, based on religious traditions which formed certain culinary customs.

This spice mix, so emblematic of India with its deep red colour, has a slightly smoky and salty flavour. Although it’s hot it’s also quite fresh and is not as hot as Madras Curry. It is made from ground coriander, ginger, cardamom, garlic, oregano, fenugreek, cumin, cinnamon, pepper, chilli pepper, nutmeg, cloves, mace, laurel, mustard and salt. The flavours blend together in perfect harmony producing a truly delicious wealth of flavours, perfect with white meat, scallops and king prawns.

Ingredients: Paprika, black pepper, coriander, cumin, garlic, ginger, caraway, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg.

A collection of easy-to-use spices for everyday cooking. These spices will delight all your daily dishes. This Steakhouse spice blend is made with: onion, voatsiperifery pepper, cubeb pepper, paprika, cayenne chili pepper, red kampot pepper, garlic, rosemary, thyme and oregano.

Spice up your steak dishes with this delicious blend! You can also add it to breadcrumbs, stuffing, to sauces or directly on your grilled or a la plancha meat - delicious!

This mix is perfect for making a delicious tzatziki sauce.

Simply mix 1 teaspoon of this blend mixed with Greek yoghurt with freshly cut cucumbers to taste, and it's ready to be served!

Ingredients: Dill, garlic, combava, shallot, salt

Pimenton is a mild chilli pepper from South America which Christopher Colombus brought back to Queen Isabella of Castile.

Ever since the 14th century, Pimenton is grown in Spain in the Vera region, at the heart of the Sierra de Gredos mountain range. This region has an exceptional temperate and humid microclimate. This Pimenton de la Vera has been granted Protected Designation of Origin, which is a guarantee of excellent quality.

Pimenton de la Vera comes from the Capsicum Annuum bush which is around a metre high. The fruits are carefully hung up to dry, then smoked using green oak wood for two weeks. There are only 12 producers of Pimenton de la Vera who have the specific know-how to produce it. 

With notes of chorizo, the spice's dark red colour is typically Spanish and helps to brighten up all traditional Spanish dishes from paëlla to tortilla.

Ingredients: Paprika, sunflower oil (1%)

Saffron, which gets its name from the Persian "zapharan" meaning "stigmas", is a spice which comes from the three stigmas from the Crocus sativus. Originally from the Middle East, it was first grown 4,000 years ago in the Greek provinces.

Considered the most expensive spice in the world, saffron is rare due to the extremely tedious harvesting process and its very low yield. Roughly 150,000 crocus flowers are needed to obtain just 1kg of saffron.

Very sought after by gastronomes for its extraordinary flavour and colour, saffron is considered the crown jewel of the spice kingdom.

Harvesting requires patience and dexterity and is carried out very carefully when the crocus blooms, which only lasts 2 to 3 weeks. Local women delicately handpick these flowers which only last a day before wilting. Then comes the intricate process of removing the stigmas from the flowers, keeping intact the most aromatic part of the flower, using an extremely precise and age-old technique.

The red stigma of the mauve coloured crocus has surprising aromas of cedar, pepper and flowers, bringing together warmth, intensity and a delicate sweetness. It leaves gourmets spellbound and is a must-have for any chef in search of a Michelin star.

The island of Phu Quoc is called the "Emerald Island" as it harbours many natural treasures. It is located in the Gulf of Thailand, off the coast of Cambodia. The island has been part of Vietnam since 1945.

Pepper cultivation was introduced in the 18th century by the Chinese. Nowadays, pepper production on the island is very select and only small quantities are produced. In Phu Quoc, only 1.5 tons/hectares are produced, compared to other regions of Vietnam that produce 8-10 tons/hectares. 

On the island, all production is done entirely by hand: harvesting, retting, washing, drying and sorting. Most of the pepper plantations are in Cua Duang, the center of the island. The pepper is harvested from February to April. The inhabitants of Phu Quoc island call the pepper "Tiêu" and eat it with seafood and fish, where they grind the pepper with salt and add lime. They also use it for seasoning for all their local dishes.

Phu Quoc black pepper is picked by hand before they are fully ripened and then left to dry in the sun.

With scents of leather and wild yet sugary notes, it is best to grind it using a mortar and pestle to release its flavours. This pepper will delight your pan-fried foie gras, red meats, roast poultry and vegetable gratins.

White Penja pepper is considered a grand cru pepper, and it is harvested when ripe in the province of Moungo, before being dried in the sun.

All the production stages (harvesting, retting, washing, drying, sorting) are entirely carried out by hand, mainly by the experienced hands of the local village women. Penja Pepper has recently gained a global gastronomic reputation. In 2014 it became the first product of the African continent to obtain Protected Geographic Indication status (PGI).

The volcanic soils of Penja give the white pepper its fresh aromas of menthol and camphor. Crack it roughly with a mortar and pestle to release its long-lasting flavour.