Padron's History

The story is told that in the 18th Century some Franciscan Monks introduced the Pimientos from Mexico to a small town in Northern Spain called Padron.

The fields nearby where the fruit is grown is in a small typically Spanish village of Herbon

The church at Herbon

This small town is still the heart of Pimientos de Padron and on the first Sunday of August the Pimientos festival begins throughout the month with thousands of kilos being sold. Pimientos de Padron is a very popular Spanish Tapas dish throughout many regions of Spain.

Each year the locals celebrate by having a pimientos de Padron festival which we visited in 2005.

The locals start at 1030 in the morning and are still going early the next day.

The festival begins with the small children from the local villages in a pepper parade followed by speeches from the local dignitaries and then the all important pepper eating session.

You simply have to buy a plate, cost of 3 euros, and then all the pimientos you can eat are free.

Whilst you sup your cold beer and eat your fill you are entertained by the local musicians and bands.

and the band played on