Yao and I were in China this year for our GREEN Sichuan pepper harvest and it honestly seemed like a completely different experience from our predominantly red pepper harvest last year! The walking paths were much narrow-er and the thorns on the bushes were very different.
Anyway, this year, I very arrogantly decided to challenge one of our farmers, "Auntie Zhou" to a Sichuan pepper snipping competition. Friends, it did not go well.
Look at that face of despair. Sheer hubris on my part.
Please watch this video to see my epic fall from Sichuan pepper snipping grace.
But it wasn't all fun and games. Look at poor Yao!! He was hard at work filming me and didn't realize there was a Sichuan pepper bush behind him. While standing up, the thorns scratched up his back!
After sorting out the peppers from just 1 branch, my fingers were bleeding. So, can you imagine just how skilled these Sichuan pepper aunties are? Their dextrous fingers expertly snipping away!
The green Sichuan pepper harvest typically takes place from late June to early August, when the peppers reach peak maturity. The small, aromatic husks are hand-picked from thorny branches to ensure quality and prevent damage. During harvest, farmers look for vibrant green peppers with a strong citrusy aroma and a numbing, tingling sensation, which indicate optimal freshness. After picking, the peppers are loaded into large boxes and transported to the collection centers for immediate processing. With daily transporting and collections, the farmers can help preserve their distinctive flavor and aroma. The timing of the harvest is crucial, as picking too early or too late can affect the pepper's potency and unique characteristics.
STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 AS WE SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PEPPERS AFTER IT HAS BEEN HARVESTED!
