Tap de Cortí: Mallorca’s most iconic pepper variety
Among the ingredients that make Mallorcan cuisine unique, few are as important as the Tap de Cortí. This native variety of pepper, traditionally grown on the island, is responsible for the characteristic colour and much of the aroma of Mallorcan sobrasada.
If you’re reading this short article, you’re surely a lover of quality produce and fine cuisine, so here we’ll tell you a little more about Tap de Cortí.
What is Tap de Cortí?
Tap de Cortí is a native pepper variety from the island of Mallorca used to make the famous Mallorcan paprika. The processing of the ripe pepper—drying and grinding—results in a sweet paprika with a very distinctive appearance and properties.
These peppers are a vivid, intense red, small (between 4 and 7 cm), triangular in shape and, curiously, grow with their tips pointing skywards.
Where does the name come from?
It is said that this name originated because the shape of this distinctive pepper closely resembled the stopper that was traditionally used in Mallorca on a certain type of bottle.
How is Tap de Cortí made?
Once these peppers, so typical of Mallorca and belonging to the ‘Capsicum annuum’ variety, have been harvested, they undergo a manual selection process to ensure only the best are used. They are then washed and sent to the drying line, where they are dried at a low temperature to better preserve all their aromatic and flavour properties. After drying, the pepper stalks are removed and the peppers are ground in several stages, each time finer, using rotating stone mills.
Properties, nutrition and health
This paprika is characterised by its vibrant orange-red colour, delicate aroma and slightly sweet flavour.
It contains vitamins A, E, K and B, but its most notable feature is its vitamin C content, which is double that of oranges or kiwis and almost triple that of any other paprika.
In addition, it is an excellent antioxidant, a quality from which the traditional Mallorcan sobrasada benefits greatly, as it uses Tap de Cortí as one of its star ingredients.
Due to its high content of vitamins, minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium), lycopene, capsinoids and polyphenols, it is highly recommended for a healthy and balanced diet.
Uses of Tap de Cortí in Mallorcan cuisine
If you love cooking and have a little imagination, you’ll come up with countless ways to use this paprika.
Traditionally here in Mallorca, it is used to season stews, the typical ‘Tumbet’, ‘Arrós brut’, ‘Frit mallorquí’ or even a good plate of snails.
But where Tap de Cortí plays a vital role is in Mallorcan sobrasada. It gives it its characteristic colour, much of its aroma and flavour, and above all, excellent antioxidant properties that allow it to be preserved for long periods of time.
Today, Tap de Cortí paprika remains one of the most iconic ingredients in Mallorcan cuisine. In our online shop, you can find Tap de Cortí paprika and other traditional products made in Mallorca:
Best gourmet products from Mallorca
If this article has sparked your interest in sobrasada, follow the link to learn about the different types of sobrasada depending on the casing used: