Peppers by Post

We – Michael and Joy Michaud – specialise in the production of chilli peppers on our west Dorset holding overlooking the English Channel. As the name of the business suggests the produce is sold by mail order.

We sell only what we grow, and pride ourselves in producing a quality product. The chillies are always sent out the same day they are picked so, delivery glitches aside, customers receive their chillies just the day after they were growing on the plant, fresher than anything that can be bought in the shops.

There are thousands of varieties of chillies in the world, and not all are created equal. The varieties we have selected represent those we believe offer the best flavour within a wide range of shapes, sizes, textures and, of course, heat level. They all have specific culinary uses, contributing to a particular cuisine or style of dish. We grow, for example, the centimetre long ‘Thai Hot’ that is perfect for stir fries, pickles and chutneys. In contrast, there is the spectacular ‘Whippet’s Tail’, whose fruit can grow up to 30cm long, and the ‘Poblano’, a mild chilli that is thick fleshed and larger than sweet bell peppers, perfect for stuffing.

Then, for people who want extreme heat combined with a wonderful flavour, we have our ‘Dorset Naga’. Developed from naga morich, a Bangladeshi landrace variety, Dorset Naga is truly one of the hottest chillies in the world (see www.dorsetnaga.com).

To order please go to the link "Ordering Information" at the top of this page. To view the full range of chillies we sell please click on the ‘Varieties’ window (to the left) and it will reveal all.

The 2009 season has now finished. We will start selling chillies again next summer in 2010

NuMex Twilight, one of the chillies that may go into a mixed bag (seed available from Sea Spring Seeds. See seaspringseeds.co.uk)

Dorset Naga Seeds

If you wish to buy seed try our sister company, Sea Spring Seeds (see www.seaspringseeds.co.uk).

Sea Spring Seeds sells seed of Dorset Naga, and several other chilli varieties, including the stunninngly beautiful NuMex Twilight (see picture above) and three unique mini-habanero varieties that we developed ourselves. In addition, we are selling seed of three sweet pepper varieties, three of the very best tasting cherry tomatoes we have ever tried and several other herb and vegetable varieties.

We only sell seed of varieties that we have grown ourselves – and can recommend from our own experience.

Please note, Sea Spring Seeds is the only company authorised to sell Dorset Naga seed.

Open day

Every year we have an open day to which everyone is invited; this year our open day is on Sunday 22nd August. Visitors will have the chance to walk around our polytunnels and greenhouses and see all the chillies we are growing. The open day is a Pepper by Post and Sea Spring Seeds event, so as well as chillies there will be other vegetable trials on show, including a sweet pepper and a tomato trial in the tunnels, and other vegetables outdoors. Fresh chillies, seeds and potted chilli plants will be available for sale. There will be some talks and cookery demonstrations as well.

Do come, it will be a great day! Please bear in mind, though, we are a small market garden and a visit is not likely to be a whole day event. So plan on taking advantage of your trip to West Dorset, it is a beautiful part of the country with lots to see, and we are just a quarter mile from the sea. Please wear appropriate clothes and footwear for the weather.

Shows

Every year we also attend several shows. So if you live close to one come and say hello to us, and if you are a regular customer please introduce yourself! At some shows we will only be selling seeds, but at others it will be any combination of fresh chillies, chilli plants and seeds.

At the moment the ones we plan on attending, but not all are confirmed, are:

21st March: Get Growing in Spring (River Cottage).
2nd May: Frome Valley Food Fest and Dorset Knob Throwing.
19th June: Bridport Food Festival
3rd-4th July: Bath Food Festival
17th July: Leigh Village Food Festival and Classic Car Show.
24th July: Wyke Food and Beer Festival
6th-8th August: Chilli Fiesta, West Dean
22nd August: Sea Spring Seeds/Peppers by Post Open day (see details above)
27th August: Melplash Agricultural Show.
4th-5th September: Dorchester County Show
11th-12th September: Sturminster Cheese Festival
18th-19th September: RHS Hyde Hall Chilli Weekend
18th-19th September: Abergavenny Food Festival
5th-6th Octobner: RHS Autumn Show
16th-17th October: Eat Dorset, Parnham House, Dorset.
23rd-24th October: Wimbourne Food Festival

Other shows and their dates will be posted as soon as we know them.