High on color and flavor, and relatively low on heat, Guntur Sannam comes from the historic chilli-growing region of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, home to one of the largest chilli markets in the world. It was the first chilli in Diaspora’s spice line-up, and remains an in-house favorite.

Guntur Sannam is grown on the Narne family farm, by brothers Hanumantharao and Satyanarayana Rao, who follow zero-budget natural farming techniques, using only cow dung and urine to fertilize their fields and plants. To ensure adequate cycling of nutrients, the chillies are intercropped with green moong, garlic, ginger, and turmeric.

To avoid chemical contamination from neighboring producers, the brothers use water from the farm pond, and border their fields with tall native trees that protect their crops from pesticide spray. These ameliorative measures create a sanctuary for birds and pollinators, which ensures their yield is high, and their chillies flavorful.

Every January, the chillies begin to ripen, signaling the start of harvest season. Ripening is key to flavor, giving the chilli its vibrant color and fruity, lemony flavor profile. This is why Narne’s chillies are picked only when completely red. They are then dried, de-stemmed, and milled with sesame oil and a touch of salt to retain freshness, and amp up their flavor.