İsot Ground Urfa Pepper (Urfa Biber) — Tuğba Kuruyemiş Turkish Chili, 160 g

İsot, also called Urfa biber or Urfa pepper, is a dark Turkish chili from the Urfa (Şanlıurfa) region of southeastern Turkey. It is technically a red Capsicum annuum pepper that ripens to a deep maroon on the plant, then goes through a slow two-stage cure: laid out to dry in the sun by day, then wrapped tightly at night in a step called "sweating." That overnight resting pulls the pepper's own remaining moisture back into the flesh and turns it the dark burgundy-to-near-black color you see in the bag. Although the flavor reads as smoky, the pepper is never actually smoked — the smokiness comes entirely from sun-curing.

The taste is what makes İsot a favorite of cooks worldwide. It is rich and earthy with a clear raisin-like sweetness, and the tannins give it deeper notes that people often compare to chocolate, tobacco, and dried fruit. The heat is gentle to moderate rather than sharp — it builds slowly and lingers instead of hitting all at once, so you get warmth and depth without a fierce burn. This is finely ground İsot, soft and powdery, so it folds straight into mixes and rubs.

In Turkish and wider Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking, İsot is the pepper behind dishes like çiğ köfte and lahmacun, and it stands up beautifully to lamb, beef, and other strong flavors. Use it on kebabs and köfte, in stews, soups, and slow-braised meat, in marinades and meze, or sprinkled over grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and egg dishes. It pairs naturally with cumin, paprika, sesame, and onion, and a pinch is excellent stirred into hummus, dusted over feta or halloumi, or whisked into olive oil as a finishing drizzle. Some cooks even fold a little into rich chocolate desserts and brownies, where its raisin-and-cocoa side shines.

• What it is: Ground İsot (Urfa biber / Urfa pepper) — a sun-cured dark Turkish chili
• Origin: Urfa / Şanlıurfa region, Turkey
• Flavor: Smoky-sweet, raisin-like, earthy, with a slow gentle-to-moderate heat
• Texture: Finely ground, deep burgundy-black
• Great on: Kebabs, köfte, stews, soups, marinades, meze, grilled meats, roasted vegetables, eggs
• Net weight: 160 g, resealable stand-up bag

Store the bag sealed in a cool, dry place away from direct light to keep the color and aroma at their best.