Many of you enjoyed reading my recent review of Pickapeppa Sauce. Well good news! Soon after my review, I had the privilege of interviewing Cheryl B. Grevemberg, the Vice President of Marketing & Sales for Pickapeppa. This was a very enjoyable piece to put together, and I hope this answers any questions you had about Pickapeppa. So please enjoy this rare insight to a world famous sauce, and thanks for reading! – Lane Williams
Along with the USA, what other countries can you find this Jamaican sauce on store shelves?
It is formally exported to UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, but is sub distributed throughout to the Caribbean and many other countries worldwide. In Jamaica of course it is known as the Jamaican Ketchup.
On behalf of the many hot pepper fanatics who will read this, can you tell me which specific hot pepper is used in this sauce?
West Indian Red – the climate and soil in Jamaica, make this like no other in terms of its full flavor.
Who can we thank for originally creating Pickapeppa sauce?
The Pickapeppa Company had a humble beginning in the kitchen of Norman Nash who started the process as a hobby in 1921. He lacked the financial resources to bring the product to market and the business and rights were sold to Joseph Lyn Kee Chow 24 years later. The manufacturing plant is still located in Shooters Hill, Manchester, Jamaica.
Other than the original Pickapeppa Sauce, which Pickapeppa product is your personal favorite?
Pickapeppa Spicy Mango is my favorite, as it is so versatile. It is great as an ingredient or condiment, for dips, salads or main dishes. We also have major customers using it as an ingredient for their own sauces and ingredient in their restaurant chain. In Jamaica, famous restaurant chains such as KFC and Island Grill incorporate the mango sauces into their recipes. In the U.S. Jason’s Deli has just launched a healthy and delicious quinoa and shrimp salad using Pickapeppa Spicy Mango.
Shooters Hill, Jamaica is the birthplace of Pickapeppa according to the website. For those of us who have never been to Jamaica, can you tell us a little about Shooters Hill?
It is deep inside the cool forested hills of rural parish of Manchester at an elevation of around 2,500ft. It is a farming community area with yams, sweet potato some of the main crops in locality. Its around 1.5 hours drive from Kingston, the capital city of Jamaica.
In the USA, we associate Jamaica with beautiful beaches and reggae music, so as a bit of fun to end this interview (and to show off your Jamaican pride), what reggae song would best fit as a theme song for Pickapeppa Sauce?
Jammin, a Bob Marley song, because the sauce is “JAMMIN”!
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