The Voatsiperifery pepper gets its name from the Malagasy words "voa," meaning "fruit," and "tsiperifery," meaning "plant." This vine grows wild on trees in the tropical forests in the warm and humid regions of Eastern Madagascar. The Voatsiperifery pepper hides in the heart of the forest, and collectors, like our mushroom hunters, keep their "good spots" a secret.

Its annual harvest, entirely by hand, is delicate because the vines, which climb up to thirty meters high, are sometimes inaccessible. The fruit is picked from June to August (ten kilograms of fresh fruits yield one kilogram of dried pepper), then it is sorted and graded by hand. The dark red color of the dried fruit is a sign of optimal maturity at the time of harvest, and thus synonymous with quality.

This wild pepper is often confused with cubeb, earning it the nickname "cubeb of the country" in Madagascar.

The proliferation of illegal harvesting; the lack of access to energy in these regions, forcing residents to rely on wood for heating and cooking; the slash-and-burn cultivation method, also widespread in cassava plantations and rice fields which are the main source of food; are the main causes of deforestation.

In this context, the valorization of Voatsiperifery pepper appears as a bulwark against forest destruction. For growth, the vines necessarily need to evolve in a dense forest environment. Therefore, we have built with our partners a sustainable supply chain with virtuous harvesting practices. The harvest is particularly controlled and regulated by the Malagasy government. Each harvesting area is precisely geographically delimited, and an official harvesting volume is defined in agreement with the authorities.

Thanks to our partners who are present every day among these rural communities, we work with the families of harvesters, training them in sustainable agricultural practices and reforestation commitments. The harvesters with whom we have chosen to work are trained in climbing techniques and participate in reforestation of degraded areas. The vines are preserved year after year and continue to grow and flourish, developing ever more abundant clusters.