Rezha Macedonian Pepper

The Rezha Macedonian Pepper is an heirloom Capsicum annuum from Macedonia known for its unique engraved corking pattern on the skin. These elongated peppers ripen to deep red and offer a sweet-nutty flavor with medium heat. Traditionally used in roasting and drying for winter preservation.

Rezha Macedonian Peppers are distinctive tapered fruits, 4 to 7 inches long and approximately 1 inch wide, with medium-thick juicy walls. They ripen from green or yellowish-green to a brilliant deep red. The most striking feature is the prominent raised tan lines covering the skin, known as corking, which give the pepper an engraved or embroidered appearance reminiscent of snakeskin. This texture makes them rough when eaten fresh but softens beautifully when roasted or grilled. The flavor is rich and sweet-hot with a mild nutty note, becoming slightly smoky upon cooking. Heat levels vary but generally fall in the medium range. These peppers are not typically consumed raw due to the granular texture of the striations. Instead, they are prized for roasting whole or split, drying in bundles for winter use, or incorporating into traditional Macedonian dishes and pastes. The variety has been cultivated in small villages of North Macedonia for over a century and remains a rare heirloom outside its origin.