Capia, bell, long green and Çarliston pepper: Turkey's main export pepper types, their calibers, uses and growing regions.
Pepper entered Anatolian cuisine via Mediterranean trade routes during the Ottoman era, and today the Antalya region in particular grows most of its crop under cover, in greenhouses, alongside open-field production in Mersin and Adana. That mix of greenhouse and open-field growing is what gives pepper a supply calendar unusually close to year-round for a warm-season crop.
Four shapes, four different jobs in the kitchen
Capia pepper, blocky and thick-walled, is the variety of choice for frying, charring, and paste-making; bell pepper's regular shape and sturdy walls make it the standard for stuffing and baking; long green (sivri) pepper is thinner and milder, typically fried whole or served as a side; and Çarliston (Charleston), pointed and elongated, splits the difference between the two with a flavor suited to both frying and fresh use. Sizing reflects this split in shape: blocky types are graded by diameter (roughly 50-110 mm), while pointed types are graded by length (roughly 12-20 cm).
What greenhouse growing changes
In greenhouse production, seedlings are trained upward on a wire trellis system, which improves air circulation and lowers disease pressure compared with sprawling open-field plants — one reason Antalya's covered production can run a longer season than open-field plots elsewhere, which see their biggest yield jump only in the summer months. Whichever the growing method, harvest is done by hand, cutting each pepper along with its stem once it reaches the target color and size; a fresh, intact stem is one of the first things export buyers check on arrival, alongside vivid, even color.
Turkey is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of green peppers. Capia pepper alone accounts for about half of the country's total pepper production; pepper output of all types on Samsun's Bafra Plain grew from roughly 168,000 tons in 2023 to an expected 182,000 tons in 2024, of which Capia was about 131,000 tons, with most of that volume shipped to European markets. Turkey was the world's 3rd-largest producer of peppers in 2023 per FAO data (3.08 million tons), behind only China and Mexico.
You can visit our Pepper product page for full variety, caliber, and packaging detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Capia and Çarliston pepper?
Capia is thick-walled and blocky, best for frying, charring, and paste-making, while Çarliston is pointed and elongated, suited to both frying and fresh use.
How is pepper caliber measured?
Blocky pepper types are graded by diameter, roughly 50-110 mm, while pointed types like Çarliston and long green pepper are graded by length, roughly 12-20 cm.
