Capsicum peppers grown by Baniwa women hold great symbolic meaning.
Used nearly every day in the community, the peppers are believed to ensure health and protection. So it’s no surprise that over 70 varieties of the pepper are now cultivated in the region where the Baniwa live. Once grown, an arduous process of collecting, drying, roasting, grinding and salting the peppers is performed, all by women, to then be enjoyed by the community and distributed globally.