Côte d’Ivoire: Tiassalé pepper, a bold gamble in search of excellence

Jean-Eudes Kacou, a visionary farmer

In a country dominated by the cultivation of cocoa and cashew nuts, Jean-Eudes Kacou has chosen a singular path: that of pepper. A producer in Tiassalé, he embodies a new generation of Ivorian farmers who are banking on rare, organic crops. Inspired by his late father’s passion and supported by his family, Jean-Eudes launched the Kapecé brand, in tribute to his father, Kacou Pierre-Clavere.

Organic, family-run production

Kapecé is more than a brand: it’s a human and eco-responsible adventure. Rejecting the use of chemicals for over eleven years, Jean-Eudes focuses on farming that respects the environment and the health of his workers. “We produce less, but better”, he asserts. It’s a philosophy that favors quality over quantity, with a strong commitment to its employees, who are considered to be full-fledged members of the family.

A product that appeals to Abidjan’s chefs and restaurants

Tiassalé pepper has not gone unnoticed in the kitchens of the economic capital. Bruno Oustric, chef of the Tiama hotel restaurant in Abidjan, is a fervent ambassador. He praises the diversity and aromatic intensity of the product: black, white, red or fresh pepper… a palette of flavors that advantageously replaces the often expensive imported products.

Towards a PGI for Tiassalé pepper

Jean-Eudes’ ambition doesn’t stop there. Like Cameroon’s Penja pepper, which benefits from a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), he dreams of official recognition for Tiassalé. The aim is twofold: to guarantee the quality of the product and to ensure a sustainable income for producers. For CIRAD specialist Delphine Marie-Vivien, the PGI represents a powerful tool for collective promotion: “It is a recognition of the specificity of a product and a strong economic lever”.

Tiassalé, Côte d’Ivoire’s future pepper hub?

Jean-Eudes sees further ahead: structuring the industry, training other growers, expanding the area under cultivation. He repeats: “One swallow doesn’t make a spring”. His objective is clear: to make Tiassalé an emblematic pepper-growing area in Côte d’Ivoire, with its own identity recognized at regional and international level.

Conclusion

Tiassalé pepper, through the story of Jean-Eudes Kacou and the Kapecé brand, illustrates the innovative capacity of Ivorian agriculture. By combining family know-how, respect for the environment and an ambition for quality, this nascent sector embodies the future of a terroir that wants to assert itself. Obtaining a PGI would be a logical crowning achievement for this exceptional product, and a tremendous springboard for the local economy.