I consider myself fairly familiar with new foods, but until yesterday I had never heard of the Peppadew.
I was hosting friends for dinner and decided to pick up some mixed nuts at The Wine and Cheese Place, a shop I frequent for wines, cheeses and specialty items I can’t find elsewhere.
While browsing the back of the store among the cheeses, I noticed a glass refrigerated case stocked with pâtés, olives and bright red peppers labeled Peppadews. Curious, I asked the clerk what the vivid little peppers stuffed with white filling were. He explained they were Peppadews filled with sheep and goat cheese preserved in herbed olive oil and said they were delicious. I asked for a sample. The clerk hesitated—samples were limited and the jars were pricey—but he managed to find a halved piece for me to try. WOW. These are incredible. The flavor is astonishingly vibrant: sweet, mildly peppery, and perfectly balanced with the cheese and oil.
I bought a few for my guests to taste and picked up a jar to try at home and to experiment with stuffing myself this week. Curious to learn more, I visited the Peppadew website to read about the fruit’s origins. Here’s what I discovered:
The Peppadew is the first truly new fruit introduced globally since the kiwi nearly three decades ago. The Sweet & Spicy Peppadew has as charming a backstory as its flavor.
A few years ago, a businessman and farmer named J.S. (who prefers to remain anonymous) noticed an unusual shrub in the garden of his holiday home in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The plant stood about head-high and was covered with small, bright red fruit that looked like a cross between miniature red peppers and cherry tomatoes.
He bit into one and discovered a unique taste: sweet with a mild peppery bite and a distinctive tang. Realizing he had something special, he saved seeds from the ripened fruit, cultivated the plants, developed a processing recipe, and named the product PEPPADEW™—a nod to their peppery character and sweet, dewy flavor.
If you come across them, try the stuffed Peppadews at The Wine and Cheese Place or buy a jar to taste at home. Many specialty food shops carry them, and you can also order directly from the Peppadew website. They offer recipes that show different ways to enjoy the fruit—stuffed with cheeses, mixed into salads, or served as a bright, flavorful appetizer.
I’d love to hear your thoughts if you try them. I found Peppadews heavenly and they make a memorable addition to any appetizer spread.
