Spicy village: residents of Velyka Dobron produce 150 tons of paprika every season

The village of Velyka Dobron in Uzhgorod district in Transcarpathia is a Ukrainian paprika capital. A special variety of red peppers is cultivated here on hectares of land, and ground pepper amounts to hundreds of kilograms. Fragrant and colorful spices – ground pepper is not just the main income of the village, but already a real brand: Dobron paprika spices dishes not only in Transcarpathia.

The production of spices is not an easy process, paprika must be taken care of for almost entire year – from January to November, but it’s worth the efforts: paprika has become a true symbol of the village. Velyka Dobron is the only place in Ukraine where this delicious and healthsome pepper is grown in such amount. The elegant vegetable has more respect than the famous local early potatoes, because now paprika, farmers say, is bringing more profit.

So, working with pepper – year-round, stresses farmer Basil Guidi, but right now Dobron most colorful chilli already collected, and bright pepper adorns almost every mansion. He spends his tour as his own farm and yard neighbors and says, in Garland pepper not only dried – strung on thread or collected in nets, vegetable ripens and becomes the brightest color.

His wife Ms Ahi, just going over yesterday collected the remains of the harvest, admits of all work (and in Dobron not have taken "just Town" is the work of honor deal with large-scale agricultural production!) most prefer to work with Pepper: he is clean, and beautiful, and has a pleasant fragrance.

Mr Basil said: "Yes, this is our brand – dobronska paprika! This pepper is grown only here. Generally, this pepper typical cuisine of the Balkans, in Spain, of course, in Hungary. In Slavic cuisine – not so, but here in Transcarpathia we have a very good marketing – gives a profit is better than staple crops – potatoes, followed by pepper and gardens. "

But before you sell the finished peppers should do much. Season starts back in January, when planting seeds. Then pepper bushes settled under the film, in greenhouses, there ripen under caring supervision dobronskyh farmers this year, by the way, tested the new elite seed and the result is very satisfied. Owner says harvest beginning in mid-August. Paprika is collected ripen, then dries, and then – milled.

Up to 150 tons – that amount of paprika produces annually hardworking Dobron (it is a ready-made spice from dried and ground pepper!). In high season the village decorated with red pepper.But most flavor felt where peppers are converted to actual spice. His harvest Mr. Basil gives neighbor who has equipped special paprychnyy mill. Pepper several times through the unit and turns on the same peppers – colorful scented powder which is the best adornment of each dish. Jobs – is in full swing and, it seems, and that facilities for grinding, and the worker is unlikely soon lose that flavor that bright colors …

Without pepper your table does not imagine himself a farmer, who, of course, has a favorite dish. Firstly, it is stuffed – smiles Mr. Basil. And secondly – a variety of traditional Hungarian paprikash: chicken, beef, pork, and in every dish – even a spoon of pepper: to taste and color! However, farmers do not suggest recipes. After all convinced that this spice complement any kitchen and any dish. Moreover, nutritionists have called paprika record for the amount of vitamin C. And in the "village Pepper" say paprika – their brand – it’s the best appetizer!

More photos – in photojournalism Jozsef Kish