Priprioca Oil

Priprioca is grown by local communities in the Amazon rainforest in northern Brazil, the largest and most biodiverse area in the world. Of all known plant species across the globe, 10% are found in the Amazon. The tropical climate of this biodiversity hotspot with lowland waters, high humidity and warmth provides ideal conditions for this indigenous plant species to thrive and develop its fine aromas and special ingredients such as mustacones, alpha-pinene, cyperene, rotundene and alpha-guaiene. The Priprioca roots are carefully harvested between October and December, sorted and freshly steam distilled in the local distillery.

Priprioca or Piri-piri (Cyperus articulatus L.) from the Cyperaceae family is a reed-like tropical grass known as sedge grass. It can grow up to 3m tall and thrives in moist, swampy and flooded areas along rivers and streams in the Amazon basin, where it can help control soil erosion. It grows in a bush-like fashion from dividing rhizomes that are about 2cm long and 1.5cm in diameter. The tall green stems are fibrous, round and hollow and can be up to 2cm wide at the base. Small, white, wheat-like flowers form at the tips of the long stems.

Piri-piri stalks were sometimes used like reeds for basket weaving and other handicrafts by the indigenous people in the Amazon region. Priprioca has traditionally been used for its medicinal and magical properties: it helps to heal cuts and wounds, snake bites or nausea or to make someone a skilled hunter or fisherman. The most famous use of priprioca is for seduction through its aromatic scent, with local tribal women bathing their hair with priprioca infusions to win over men. Rare in Europe, this essential oil with its special aroma is taking over the world of aromatherapy and natural perfumery.