The Aromatic Delights of Quang Tri: Spicy Scents and Flavors

The central Vietnamese province of Quang Tri is experiencing a surge in exports of its renowned organic dried pepper to the US and European markets. This premium spice, with its intense flavor and aroma, commands a high economic value and is a signature product of the region. Dried pepper, with its versatile culinary applications and distinctive fragrance, is an essential ingredient in local cuisine and a unique export commodity. The export of this spice is a testament to the region's sunny, windy climate, earning it the reputation of exporting the ultimate "fragrant and spicy" product.

Administrator

4 May, 2025

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Quang Tri’s dried peppercorns have been renowned for centuries. The 18th-century scholar, Le Quy Don, made note of their popularity in his work “Phu Bien Tap Luc,” mentioning foreign merchants’ travels to Quang Tri to trade the prized spice, which they regarded as “black gold.” Today, Quang Tri’s dried pepper is still celebrated for its superior quality, boasting firm, fragrant, and spicy peppercorns with an impressive bulk density of 650 grams per liter.

Leading the Way in Organic Pepper Production for Export

Quang Tri is exceptional in its ability to cultivate pepper plants, with only a handful of other provinces able to do the same. The province’s peppercorns are in high demand, and many buyers consistently seek to purchase them for export. To meet this demand and integrate further with the global market, Quang Tri has implemented an effective organic pepper development program in recent years. This initiative has been met with enthusiasm, with locals jokingly referring to it as “fragrant and spicy export.”

Gio An Commune, located in the western part of Gio Linh District, is the epicenter of pepper cultivation in Quang Tri Province. This commune has embraced international standards for organic pepper growth, with 85 out of 100 hectares dedicated to this practice, yielding an impressive estimated annual output of 3 tonnes of dried pepper per hectare.

In 2024, the highest price of dried pepper reached an impressive 200,000 VND per kilogram, translating to a total value of over 20 billion VND for Gio An residents from sales. Le Phuoc Hieu, Vice Chairman of the Gio An Commune People’s Committee, proudly shared that their pepper is grown according to US organic standards, ensuring their export products are accepted by demanding markets at premium prices 10-20% higher than market rates. This provides a stable income for pepper growers.

The journey of dried pepper in Gio An is a testament to the community’s will and determination. They have established a cooperative to provide quality seedlings and coordinate product purchases. Becoming an organic pepper producer according to international standards involves meticulous record-keeping of farming processes and multiple safety assessments of soil, water, leaves, and peppercorn samples. With the pepper plantation area now certified organic, farmers must continue adhering strictly to the required production processes, as the certification is only valid for one year.

The volume of exported organic peppercorns from Gio An has been on a steady upward trajectory. From an initial export of 15 tonnes eight years ago, they have more than doubled their exports, reaching 30 tonnes in 2019 and surpassing 100 tonnes in 2024. Growing organic pepper for export offers not just high economic returns but also significant environmental benefits due to the nature-friendly cultivation process.

The success of Gio An Commune has inspired other localities in Quang Tri to embrace organic pepper cultivation for export. Le Tuan Tuu, Director of the Vinh Linh Pepper Production and Business Cooperative, shared that their cooperative has dedicated 30 hectares to organic pepper growth, soon expanding to 50 hectares. Farmers in this cooperative embrace environmentally friendly methods, foregoing herbicides, chemical pesticides, and fertilizers. They actively care for their pepper gardens and ensure a safe harvesting process, including drying pepper on clean sheets and cleaning before packaging and preservation.

Nguyen Tan Thuy, a resident of Kim Thach Commune in Vinh Linh District, expressed his satisfaction with the cooperative’s guidance, which has helped his family and other pepper growers cultivate pepper efficiently, enhancing the value of their gardens while maintaining a safe living environment.

Elevating a Signature Product

Nguyen Hong Phuong, Deputy Director of the Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment, shared their plans to expand the organic pepper area for export. The department is directing several communes, including Gio An, Hai Thai, Gio Son, Phong Binh, and Trung Son in Gio Linh District, as well as communes in eastern Vinh Linh District and the Cua area of Cam Lo District, to prepare documentation for certification as organic pepper-growing areas according to US NOP standards. They aim to increase the supply of pepper seedlings, provide technical support for garden renovation and model garden construction, and develop western Gio Linh District into the largest organic pepper hub in Quang Tri.

According to Phuong, Quang Tri has been committed to the story of organic pepper exports for years, recognizing the potential for high profits for pepper growers. In 2018, during a program to promote Vietnamese localities in the US organized by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Quang Tri introduced pepper products from the Quang Tri Trade Corporation JSC, in collaboration with local farmers. Heidi Kuhn, CEO of Roots of Peace, sampled the pepper and was impressed, calling it one of the best in the world. Her organization has since implemented a sustainable rural development project to support Quang Tri farmers in growing organic pepper.

Kuhn’s vision is to transform bomb craters and minefields in Quang Tri into thriving pepper gardens, ensuring that Quang Tri’s organic dried pepper gains a strong foothold in the US market, becoming a staple seasoning in homes and restaurants. This vision is supported by the US-based Noble House Spice Group, which signed an MOU with Quang Tri Trade Corporation JSC to jointly develop the Quang Tri pepper brand for the US market. Both parties are committed to promoting the quality and international standards of Quang Tri pepper, supporting farmers in sustainable pepper development.

Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee’s Directive No. 38, dated August 20, 2024, emphasizes the importance of promoting organic agricultural production, natural farming, circular agriculture, and high-tech agriculture linked to value chains. Pepper is recognized as one of the long-term industrial crops, holding a leading position among the key traditional crops of Quang Tri Province, which currently boasts over 2,300 hectares of pepper plants across several districts.

Phuong noted that as the US is Vietnam’s largest export market for dried pepper, Quang Tri’s focus on organic pepper for export is a strategic direction, aligning with global market demands and consumer preferences. However, compared to the available specialty of Quang Tri dried pepper, the volume exported to this market has been modest. To boost exports, the province aims to improve yield and quality, creating a competitive advantage while meeting international market requirements, thus increasing economic value.

Recently, the province has implemented policies and incentives to encourage farmers to apply science and technology in dried pepper production, promoting organic practices, and aiming for 500 hectares of organic pepper fields by 2030. Additionally, they plan to increase pepper-growing areas in planned zones to ensure a total sustainable cultivation area of about 2,700 hectares. To further elevate the specialty of dried pepper, Quang Tri has received support from the French government to establish geographical indications for the product, affirming its quality in domestic and international markets.