Lampung, The "Land of Pepper": Once Renowned Internationally

UNGKIT.COM – Lampung is known as the "Land of Pepper" because it has been one of Indonesia's largest and finest black pepper-producing regions since the colonial era.

Nations from Asia, Africa, and Europe—spanning three of the world's seven continents—have long recognized Lampung as a pepper-producing region in Sumatra. 

It was a key stopover for those traveling from the Strait of Malacca and the Sunda Strait en route to the "Spice Islands" (the name Europeans gave to the Maluku Islands).

During its heyday, tons of pepper from Lampung were transported out of the region and exported globally, entering international markets and serving various needs across many countries.

The abundance of pepper plants and the bustling trade—attracting buyers from diverse nations—led Europeans to nickname Tulangbawang, one of Lampung's major pepper-producing areas at the time, "Paris van Lampung."

Pepper has been widely cultivated in Lampung since the 15th or 16th century, serving as a vital commodity. 

Today, farmers in Lampung still grow pepper, though not on the same scale or with the same intensity as in the past. The primary production centers have shifted away from Tulangbawang, Sekampung, or Seputih to the regencies of Way Kanan, North Lampung, East Lampung, Tanggamus, and West Lampung.

Despite a temporary decline in production, Lampung black pepper—characterized by its black to brownish hue—remains a premier commodity cultivated in these regencies.

Its distinctive qualities—a strong aroma, small and dense peppercorns, and a lingering spicy taste—earned Lampung black pepper a Geographical Indication (GI) certificate in 2015. 

This certificate legally establishes the "Lampung Black Pepper" brand as the property of the people of Lampung, recognizing a product with flavor and aroma characteristics unique to the region and found nowhere else in the world. 

The context and objectives regarding Geographical Indications (GI) in 2015 reflect efforts to protect distinctive regional products in anticipation of the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). 

These measures aim to enhance product competitiveness and value-added through legal protection and guarantees of authentic quality, as noted by the Directorate General of Estate Crops (Ditjenbun) under the Ministry of Agriculture. 

A Geographical Indication (GI) certificate provides legal protection for the product's geographical name of origin, prevents counterfeiting, and ensures authenticity. (*)

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