No, this is not a misleading title. This is a true story. And there is nothing sweet about it. Only spicy…
I proved to myself that development and dreams do not happen only in the big city. I discovered my path right here in the village – Slavena Rodinova is happy. She is one of the driving forces behind the first specialized farm for producing hot peppers in Bulgaria – Hot Farm. It is located 14 km from Varna, on the shores of Varna Lake, in the small and picturesque village of Strashimirovo in Beloslav.
And if the Covid-19 pandemic has done something good, it is definitely that it brought many young people back to their hometowns. This is exactly what happened to Slavena. “I was looking for development in the capital, but when I returned during the pandemic, I saw the potential of the village and what my parents had created. I decided to further develop it together and show that a small village can be ranked among the world laboratories and institutes for creating new varieties,” the young girl does not hide her excitement about her work.
And even though the pandemic is over, she continues to live and work on the family farm in Strashimirovo. Just two months ago, she became one of the faces in the “Forbes” selection for Europe’s “30 Under 30.” Every year, “Forbes” recognizes young and innovative leaders under 30 who possess all the necessary knowledge and skills, as well as the vision to change Bulgaria and the world for the better.
In fact, Slavena is proof that children do not listen; they copy their parents. Because what inspires and motivates her the most is the fact that her father has managed to cultivate the hottest Bulgarian pepper variety right in Strashimirovo. “The potential that this place holds is great. Probably, if we were somewhere else, things would not have come together so easily for my father,” thinks the 27-year-old girl. In 2022, after nearly six years of attempts, Hristo Rodinov succeeded in creating the hottest pepper grown in our geographical latitudes. He named it “Bulgarian Spirit.” Until then, the title was held by the variety “Bulgarian Carrot,” with heat levels between 10,000 and 30,000 Scoville units. Two years ago, Hristo received an international certificate for creating a new type of pepper, ten times hotter than the “Bulgarian Carrot,” competing with the world champions in spiciness. It is a cross between “Trinidad Moruga Scorpion” and red “Habanero.” “A small village near Varna was ranked alongside world laboratories and institutes engaged in creating new varieties,” Slavena Rodinova is proud.
The first specialized farm for growing hot peppers in Bulgaria was founded in 2011. “At that time, my father decided to collect hot peppers from all over the world and try to grow the hottest ones here. Although the climate in our country is not very suitable, as the hottest peppers come from the warmest countries, his experiment led to the creation of his own brand several years later,” recounts his worthy successor. Today, “Hot Farm” has closed the entire production cycle. They produce everything from mildly spicy to extremely hot peppers, as well as sauces, jams without added sugar, pickles, spreads, and even hot coffee. They grow everything from seeds, seedlings to the final raw materials used in the production of their own products. They even offer products for people who do not like spicy food. When Slavena decided to join “Hot Farm,” she admits that she is not a fan of spicy food. Provoked by what her parents do every day, she gradually started to try and consume it. That’s why it’s so easy for her to say that “spicy food is suitable for everyone and has a lot of health benefits.”
“Hot Farm” also organizes the first spicy tours of their kind in Bulgaria. Visitors go through more than 80 varieties of hot peppers grown in the farm’s demonstration greenhouse. Then they taste products paired with specially prepared food on site.
Besides Bulgaria, the products from Strashimirovo have also penetrated the Polish and even Chinese markets. “We want our brand to become a global destination for spicy food. Bulgaria should not lag behind countries and places where spicy food is held in high regard, like Mexico, for example,” Slavena Rodinova is ambitious.
The young agricultural entrepreneur from Strashimirovo envisions her life ten years from now still connected to “Hot Farm.” “I dream of traveling the world and meeting partners at various places with whom we work. I see myself even more determined. I want to learn and develop our brand,” she is confident in her aspirations. And she no longer considers replacing Strashimirovo with Sofia…
