Rezha Macedonian (Vezeni Piperki)

The Rezha Macedonian is a very unique heirloom pepper, having prominent tan lines all across the flesh called ‘corking’. This is a very old pepper grown in Macedonia for 100+ years, but relatively new to the rest of the world.

The pepper ripens from green to a brilliant red and are approximately 4″ – 7″ long.

The word “rezha” in Macedonian means “engraved.” Another local name, Vezeni Piperki, means “embroidered”. Both names refer to the curious lines on the skins of tapered peppers. The fruits, which range from mild to sometimes very hot, are to be seen hanging in great clusters, drying in Macedonian warm late autumn sun.

The skin texture is rough if these peppers are eaten fresh, but roasted they soften up. They have a fairly juicy flesh that isn’t crispy, but a little on the soft side.

Taste: Flavor is often mild, sweet and slightly nutty. I’ve grown these and my peppers were about in the heat range of a jalapeño. I hear the heat can vary greatly with these peppers with some having almost no heat and some being quite hot.