Lesya Pepper

What is Lesya pepper? Different varieties of pepper are popular in different parts of the world. And each region has its own distinctive pepper. Likewise, this Lesya pepper is a pride of the country of Ukraine.

And what’s more interesting is this is called the world's sweetest pepper. 

Of all the peppers, the ripe Lesya pepper has a very unique sweet and fruity flavor-earned the title of the world's sweetest pepper.

Not to mention, in recent years, this Lesya pepper’s popularity is not restricted only to Ukraine but is slowly spreading throughout the world as well.

What is Lesya pepper?

This sweet chili pepper is native to the country of Ukraine. And also widely popular in Poland and Russia. 

This is one of the most important condiments in the Ukrainian’s kitchen. The people use them in the sauces, stew, marinades, or as a spice mix. 

Do you know, the popular spice blend called ‘Adjika’ is mainly made from Lesya pepper. 

Furthermore, if you are looking to add a pepper that is high on sweet with no heat, then you should definitely consider trying this Lesya pepper.

How does it look?

This Lesya pepper highly differs from all other types of sweet peppers with its unique heart shaped body and with a pointed tip. 

The matured, fully ripe pepper has a vibrant red color skin and thick flesh measuring between 8 to 10 mm(similar to the cherry pepper).

Usually, Lesya pepper measures about 3-4 inches around its shoulder and 4-5 inches measuring lengthwise. With a thick, glossy skin. The young pods look green in color and turn to orange and red as they ripen.

And also, the pepper's seeds cluster towards the center of the rib and are mostly located in the top portion of the pepper.

How does this Lesya pepper taste?

This pepper has a unique fruity flavor and tastes sweet. Depending on the region where it is grown, the pepper has a mild to moderately sweet taste with a hint of tanginess(same as this candy cane pepper).

When tasting, the sweetness spreads over the palate, and the mild peppery flavor follows. The crunchy flesh makes them a desired chili pepper.

Our neighboring farmer’s market does carry this pepper in their stall most of the time during the season. We find them great for grilling.

Are Lesya peppers spicy?

As we have already discussed, these belong to the sweet pepper variety. And known for its sweetness with no heat. 

To make a comparison, these are similar to the heat profile of the red bell pepper. 

The uses

This pepper is incredibly versatile and excellent to enjoy in a variety of ways. 

As a snack. Slice them diagonally and serve along with hummus, ranch, or other dips like this jalapeno cilantro sauce, curry aioli. Your family and friends are going to love this for sure. 

In the salad. Secondly, you may also dice them and throw in the salad, the crunchiness is the WOW factor here.

Grilled. Our family’s favorite. We grill them with the meat, and sometimes we make them as skewers with some spice blend. That makes the backyard party incredible.

Stew/chili. Do not forget about the stew or while making chili. The thick flesh with the rich flavors make the dish delicious.
Salsa. Roast them and infuse them in the salsa. Use this in the recipes which call for the red peppers.