La Vera paprika

Tradition and product

La Vera paprika has its history in the province of Cáceres thanks to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. The famed paprika, which currently has its own Protected Designation of Origin, was introduced in Spain after the conquest of the Americas, in the Royal Monastery of Guadalupe.

The monks there were pioneers in using it in the country and, a short time later, it was introduced in the Monastery of Yuste, where the monks grew the peppers and initially used the paprika to preserve sausages and then to season stews.

La Vera provides the ideal climatological conditions for cultivating and producing paprika, as it is a county that enjoys a privileged microclimate. Here, peppers from the species Capsicum annum and the subspecies Cerasiforme and Longum are grown, producing three types of paprika: sweet, sweet/hot and hot.

After being harvested, the peppers undergo an ancient drying and smoking process, totally done by hand. A wood fire, with oak or holm oak logs, provides the heat needed to dry the peppers perfectly. The process is slow, lasting 10 to 15 days, during which time expert hands turn the peppers until they reach the right level of dryness.

This unique production process gives the paprika the three characteristics that define it: its intense aroma, its characteristic flavour and the fact it maintains its brilliant reddish colour.

La Vera paprika is a condiment, colouring agent, preservative and antioxidant, rich in vitamins C, B2, B6 and E. Its unmistakable flavour and aroma make it a star product in gastronomy, as it gives intensity to stews, sauces and marinades. Local dishes such as migas or frite are not the same without the presence of La Vera paprika in their sauces. The three varieties – sweet, sweet/hot and hot – can be found on the market and are obtained from specific varieties of peppers.

Weather

Cuacos de Yuste

3Aug

Despejado

22 ºC

38 ºC

4Aug

Despejado

23 ºC

39 ºC

5Aug

Despejado

25 ºC

40 ºC

6Aug

Despejado

23 ºC

39 ºC

7Aug

Despejado

23 ºC

37 ºC

In pictures

AltAlt

If you like La Vera paprika you will like this too...

Alt

Gata-Hurdes Oil

The Gata-Hurdes Protected Designation of Origin includes the counties of Fata, Hurdes, Trasierra, Tierras de Granadilla, part of Alagón, Ambroz, Je

Alt

Jams and preserves

Homemade or artisanal jams are a high-quality product, since they are made with the utmost care, respecting traditional process that have been pass

Alt

Liqueurs

In addition to the export of the fruits, with several million cherries every year, in 1989 the Jerte Valley Cooperatives Group began to distil che

More things you can find in La Vera

Alt

Cuacos de Yuste Historical Site

Back in 1959, the town of Cuacos de Yuste, in the county of La Vera, was declared an ‘Aesthetic Reserve’.

Alt

Villanueva de La Vera Historical Site

This is one of the most easterly towns in the county of La Vera, and was declared a Historical Site in 1982.

Alt

Monastery of Yuste European Heritage

On one side of the Sierra de Tormantos mountains, two kilometres from the town of Cuacos, stands the Monastery of Saint Jerome of Yuste, an imposin

Alt

Pasarón de La Vera Historical Site

Pasarón de La Vera is a town located on the western edge of the county of La Vera.

Servicios turisticos

On Instagram... #instacaceres