Aleppo Pepper Flakes

What are Aleppo pepper flakes?

With its most common characteristic being its rich burgundy color, the Aleppo pepper is a favorite in most dishes, mainly for its moderate heat and tasteful flavor.  A little dab of the deep red Aleppo chile will bring out the flavor in just about anything, from microwave popcorn to roasted tofu. It is a common Middle Eastern condiment that can be used to season a wide range of foods, just like you would with any other regular pepper. Being a part of the Capsicum Annum family, Aleppo Chile originated in Syria and is a well-known Middle Eastern and Mediterranean spice. The Aleppo pepper is also known as the Halaby pepper and is named after the long-inhabited Syrian city of Aleppo.  

However, its cultivation has slowly moved to Turkey, as sourcing it in the war-torn city proved to be too much of a hassle. Aleppo pepper starts off as pods and ripens to a burgundy color, after which it is harvested, semi-dried, de-seeded, crushed, and ground into a fine powder. The spice boasts a moderate heat level, with a Scoville rating of 10,000. It has a fruity sweetness and a savory sun-dried tomato finish. Although the Aleppo spice originates from Syria and is named after a city in northern Syria, there are many spices similar to the Aleppo pepper within the Capsicum annum family; therefore, make sure you are purchasing the authentic Aleppo pepper rather than a darker and smokier variation like Urfa Biber. Both Aleppo pepper flakes and Aleppo pepper spice are available for purchase, and you can use this spice in various forms. Many Mediterranean dishes incorporate it, particularly in the form of crushed flakes, which have a higher oil content than ordinary crushed pepper. Aleppo chile easily blends with other spices and is a great recipe for use in flavoring salads.

Aleppo pepper health benefits:

◉ Helps to improve eyesight: Aleppo pepper is a variant of the Capsicum annum family that contains many antioxidants. Its high concentration of vitamin A makes it the perfect herb for vision improvement. The protective action of vitamin A makes it very good for the cornea, as it also treats dry eyes. People looking to increase their vitamin A consumption will find it beneficial to consume Aleppo pepper with most meals. The Aleppo spice can also help with myopia, cataracts, fighting off macular degeneration, and just keeping the eye tissue healthy.

◉ Speeds up metabolism: The Halaby pepper has an innate ability to increase metabolic rate. Generally, eating hot pepper has been shown to escalate body metabolism and circulation, as it induces heavy sweating that cools down the body. This happens as the perspiring action releases toxic minerals from the body’s sweat pores.

◉ Alleviate inflammation: Aleppo pepper contains capsaicin as an active component. Capsaicin, the main cause of the heating sensation when consuming peppers, is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. This quality makes it suitable for people with conditions such as asthma, arthritis, and nervous disorders.

◉ Diabetes control: According to several clinical tests. Capsaicin helps balance blood insulin levels, thereby counteracting all other symptoms that increase sugar levels. Being high in capsaicin as its main component, the Aleppo spice is undoubtedly a beneficial resource for diabetics. 

Where to buy Aleppo pepper flakes:

Buy Aleppo Pepper Flakes from the health food store in the USA, Alive Herbals.

Aleppo chili flakes information (at a glance):