Matamoros

Hola! This is fourteen years ago. Talk about chile heaven :-) Great sauces!

And mountains of dried chiles! People probably thought that we were crazy, having so much fun with all the chiles.

Regards,
  Mats

Cherry tree blooming

A week ago, there were no flowers at all. Today, it was like this. It's truly magic!

Spring regards,
  Mats

Long time ago. Eating a habanero in Los Angeles

I stumbled over this old picture. It's taken in October 1995 during a vacation in California. That habanero you see in my hand ruined my evening. First of all - I ate it. That was OK. But when we came to our hotel, my stomach reacted, and we couldn't go out for dinner that night. Actually, I more or less thought it was my last moment :-)

Guess if I have learned my lesson :-)

"Beginner's mind"-Mats

Holy smoke Batman!

This is something to consider instead of ordinary Easter candy.

This candy that I got from my friend Mikael. Smoked red savinas!

Not only that they taste great! There are some serious health benefits: Increased metabolism and no way you can "over consume" them, there is a natural stop :-) But they are definitely really good! And something that I recommend in the morning omelette!

Happy Easter!
  Mats

Welcome my friend!

I was so happy to meet the first ladybug this year! Go ahead my friend! There are plenty of food on my plants for you!!!

Happy Easter!
   Mats

Directive on Traditional Medicinal Plants

OK, I grow chiles as a hobby, but I also enjoy ayurvedic herbs and other medical herbs. It's a hobby, an interest, a passion... That said, I don't see a connection to politics, which I try to stay out of.  But sometimes I think it's necessary to protest.

This morning I got really upset when I read about this (it's in Swedish)
http://ulrikagabriel.blogspot.com/2011/04/eu-vill-forbjuda-medicinska-orter.html
and here:
http://blogg.passagen.se/sannaehdin/entry/health_ban
and here:
http://torbjornsassersson.com/2011/04/lakemedelsindustrin-vill-forbjda-alla-orter-och-kosttillskott-i-en-attack-mot-var-ratt-till-halsa/

It's an EU directive. Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD), Directive 2004/24/EC, which is set to remove access to the vast majority of herbal medicinal products beginning 30 April 2011.

So what's going on here? Last fall, we had the storm about EU's list with Capsicum varieties, and which were allowed and so on, and now EU is bothering about herbal medicines.


You can read more about it here, and also sign the petition, if you believe that the world will be better without this directive: http://www.savenaturalhealth.eu/sign.php

Now I'm going out in the sunshine to breath in some air. At least that is something that still isn't commercialized. To breathe. But who knows what will come next...

Happy Easter!
  Mats

It was never my intention ...

... to start a collection. It's spring, and I want to feel lighter and get rid of old things. So we went up on the attic, where I found these old memories :-)

I'm a very big fan of pimenton powder! It's not very hot and it has a wonderful smokey flavor. So I can use it in almost anything. It's wonderful in meatballs :-) Anyway, it started with one of the cans at the bottom of this pyramid (Titan), which I bought on the Canary Islands many years ago. And then it just has continued. Now it's possible to buy pimenton here in Stockholm, so that probably takes the "edge" of my collection. But anyway, enjoy this pyramid :-)

And here are some other chile powders.

They are from friends, Hungary and France.  We were in Budapest visiting my friend Gabor, where we of course bought some chiles on the market :-) http://petterssononline.com/lobao/budapest/index.htm

We visited France in 2004, and went to the La fête du piment - in Espelette.

Some more pictures here: http://petterssononline.com/lobao/Frankrike/France5.html

And this last can. It has a great story. We were in Mexico, and found this 2,8 kg can with jalapeños. Of course we had to buy it. But it was a challenge to get it in the suitcase, and we were so nervous that it was going to break. But it didn't. So I think we need to keep the can for a little longer. It will survive at least another year! It's a nice can with the actual image and text printed on the can. Not on paper like the cans today...

Hot regards from your spring cleaning can collecting...
   Mats

Repotting

Phew! Busy days repotting chiles! Today I repotted three different malaguetas, Florida bird pepper, Girino, Black Cayman and St. Kitt's Red. That means that all of my peppers for this year are in their "final" pots.

Well, except one. The caronog from 2001. It's so small, so I'm still not sure if it will make it. Here it is, next to my turmeric:

Just for comparison. Check this picture below. All the seeds were planted on the same day, and compare the sizes of the plants. It's amazing to see how fast they grow when they are repotted into bigger pots. The three big ones are baccatum. I think especially baccatum takes immediate advantage from the bigger pots. They were repotted almost a month ago.

Wishing you all a nice Sunday!

Searching for seeds

Hello everyone!

Anyone who knows where I can get Brahmi and/or Bhumiamalaki seeds? Those are herbs commonly used in ayurveda.

Here is the view from our balcony this morning. A fantastic day! "Soon" the chile plants will move out to the balcony :-) Well, not really so soon, but almost soon....

Wishing you a nice weekend!
Mats

Repotting (again) - and aphids (again)

Hi!

It's been a while since I posted anything. It's not because of laziness. Rather because of the !"#¤!¤ aphids!

We have really been struggling with the aphids. I think it's about the same amount as last year. It was terrible. But I expect them to go away as soon as the plants are moved outside.

Today I repotted three more varieties. Black pepper, pimenta da Neyde and the Mexican chiltepin.

I will get back with some pictures later. Right now I don't think that they are so good looking so it's even worth taking a picture of them.

How about you? How do you experience aphids this year? Better? Worse? Or the same?

Regards,
  Mats

Dynamic views

A new feature in blogger that I think is quite nice. It's called dynamic views. Follow this link, and see how this blog is presented in a completely different way.

http://chilesinstockholm.blogspot.com/view/flipcard#!/

Quite cool. Or maybe it's because it's Friday :-)

Have a great weekend!
   Mats