If you can stand the heat, check out our top five English chilli pepper producers - just remember not to rub your eyes afterwards!
Edible Ornamentals
Their website is chock-a-block with chilli facts and details of which farmers’ markets they’re next selling at, and you can even book a ‘chilli tour and tasting experience’ at the farm. If you are visiting, be sure to give their chilli con carne a go…
You can buy a range of products from Edible Ornamentals, both in store and through their online shop, including fresh chillies, dried chillies, chilli seeds, chilli plants, chipotle, paprika, and chilli powder.
Peppers By Post
You can’t actually visit the site – everything is by mail order – and the chilli varieties they are selling this year (2012) are solely habanero types. All have a fruity flavour, but range in heat level from Dorset Naga, one of the world's hottest chillies, to Apricot, an exceptional habanero with almost no heat but a delicious tropical aroma and flavour.
They do have an open day every year, held on the Sunday of the August Bank Holiday weekend (26th). At this year’s event, there will also be vegetables on show, courtesy of Sea Spring Seeds, including sweet peppers, a tomato trial, and some outdoor crops.
The Upton Cheyney Chilli Company
All products made by The Upton Cheyney Chilli Company are made with home-grown chillies. They specialise in the cultivation of a variety of chilli plants including Jalapeno, Hungarian Hot Wax, Serrano, Habanero and the world famous Dorset Naga – the latter was developed here in the UK.
Their chilli sauces and chilli jams are lovingly made in small batches in the kitchen of their farm shop. Be aware that they don’t sell fresh chillies though.
Check out the nearby Chilli Festival, held on the second Saturday in September at Manor Farm in Upton Cheyney (midway between Bristol and Bath). A celebration of all things chilli, there’s always a chilli-eating competition to get your eyes watering!
South Devon Chill Farm
The Kingsbridge farm, which was established in 2003, now sells over 10,000 chilli plants each year, and their rise to fame has been featured on the BBC's Countryfile and Gardeners' World. Even Jamie Oliver recommends South Devon chillies, according to the website: “As you know, I am a chilli freak and these guys grow the best in the country.”
Check out their online shop for fresh chillies, chilli growing equipment, chilli chocolate, ‘extreme heat products’, gift ideas, and much more.
The Chilli Garden
The chillies are turned into vegetarian-friendly chilli jam, jelly, sauce, powder, pickles and chocolate on site, all of which can be brought on their online shop. There are also great recipe ideas on their website.
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