But why?
Since 2021, the vast majority of the chillies we use in our hot sauces have been grown in collaboration with Bigh, an aquaponics farm located on the roof of the Brussels slaughterhouses, 2km from the SWET FACTORY.
Aquaponics is a sustainable farming method in which fish, plants and bacteria work together in a closed system. The fish produce excrement naturally rich in nutrients, which micro-organisms transform into fertilizer for the plants. In return, the plants purify the water, which returns clean to the fish. This virtuous cycle enables us to produce high-quality, pesticide-free food, using very little water, and as close as possible to the consumer.
Our aquaponically-grown peppers with salmon trout have an aromatic intensity and natural sweetness that conventional methods can't match. The rich, perfectly balanced nutrients from the fish feed the plants continuously, promoting firm, juicy, fragrant flesh with a harmonious spiciness.
The pure, oxygenated, stable water required by trout creates an ideal environment for chillies. No pesticides alter their flavor, and the natural richness of the ecosystem intensifies their color, refines their skin and accentuates their crunchiness.
Implantée au cœur de Bruxelles, notre ferme partenaire incarne l’économie circulaire : production locale, recyclage naturel des ressources, réduction des transports et consommation minimale d’eau. Ce système garantit des piments récoltés à maturité, d’une fraîcheur et d’un goût incomparables, pratiquement toute l'année.
Beyond their freshness and nutritional quality, it's above all their flavors that make the difference. Aquaponics peppers reveal a unique aromatic complexity and this is no accident, but the direct result of a healthy, stable and optimized growing environment, where every element of the system contributes to sublimating the plant, it's the absolute climax, every day.
Text by Thibault Fournal, images by Cyril Chevallier.
Copyright SWET 2025.