A bit of history: Kampot pepper was famous worldwide during French Indochina. The Khmer Rouge destroyed all the plantations between 1975 and 1979. The renaissance began in the 2000s thanks to a few farming families and cooperatives supported by NGOs. The IGP was obtained in 2016 — a first in Southeast Asia for pepper.

The 4 varieties and their uses

🟢 Green (fresh) Immature berries, harvested April-May. Herbaceous, lemony, mild heat. Used in Kep crab, stir-fries, ceviche. Only lasts a few days — impossible to take home.
⚫ Black Red berries sun-dried, wrinkled skin. The spiciest of the four. Woody, earthy, slightly smoky aromas. Excellent on red meats and cheese.
🔴 Red Fully ripe berries, dried. The rarest and most expensive. Fruity, almost sweet taste, mild heat. Great on fish and chocolate desserts.
⚪ White Red berries fermented in seawater and then depulped. Very delicate floral flavor. The least spicy. Ideal for white sauces and shellfish.

Visiting a plantation

Several plantations around Kampot welcome visitors for free or low-cost guided tours. The most well-known include:

The Plantation (the largest, very accessible, free comprehensive tour, direct sales shop). Farmlink and Sothy's Pepper Farm offer more intimate family tours with comparative tastings. All are accessible by motorbike or tuk-tuk from Kampot (10-20 min).

The visit usually includes an explanation of the cultivation cycle, a side-by-side tasting of the 4 varieties, and direct sales at producer prices.

Prices and where to buy

Buying directly at the plantation is by far the best option — certified quality, traceability, competitive prices. In shops in Kampot or Siem Reap, you pay a bit more but have access to a wide selection.

Plantation price (50g) 3-8 USD depending on the variety
Kampot shop price (100g) 8-18 USD
Price in France (same quantity) 25-50 EUR depending on the distributor
Beware of counterfeits: The "Kampot pepper" sold in tourist markets in Siem Reap or Phnom Penh is not always real Kampot pepper. Only buy with the IGP seal (Kampot Pepper Promotion Association) or directly from certified producers. The KPPA (kampotpepper.coop) lists official members.

Plantation tours from Kampot

GetYourGuide — Kampot Pepper Plantation Tours
Half-day with guide · Comparative tasting · Direct sales from producer
On nous pose souvent ces questions

Questions fréquentes

Yes, there are no customs restrictions for spices coming from Cambodia to Europe. Buy in quantity at the plantations — it's legal, inexpensive, and French customs never have issues with packaged spices. A bag of 200-300g fits in any carry-on luggage.

Yes, even if you are not passionate about cooking. The visit takes 45-60 minutes, is often free, and the comparative tasting of the 4 varieties side by side is revealing — you realize that "pepper" covers very different flavors. It's an easy activity to combine with a day of biking or kayaking around Kampot.