Dobron Paprika brand, Mala Dobron

“Dobronska Paprika” is a brand from the village of Mala Dobron near Uzhhorod that produces ground sweet paprika made from dried red peppers. The producer is a local entrepreneur (the pack names “P.P. Varodi B.B.”), and the spice itself comes from an area where whole villages grow, dry and mill peppers. The Department of Tourism and Resorts of the Zakarpattia Regional Administration has included the brand in its catalogue of the region’s craft producers — those whose products best capture the taste of Zakarpattia.

Why visit the Dobron villages

Neighbouring Velyka Dobron is often called the paprika capital of Ukraine. Red peppers have been grown here for more than half a century, and almost every family has its own plot. The best time to come is late summer and autumn, when the villages literally turn red with long strings of peppers hanging under the eaves, on fences and porches — a sight well worth seeing and photographing. The brand does not offer tours or tastings, so a trip here is mainly a drive through the flat Hungarian-speaking villages between Uzhhorod and Chop and a chance to buy paprika where it is made. Arrange a direct purchase and pick-up in Mala Dobron by phone; “Dobronska Paprika” is also sold in Uzhhorod spice shops and online stores.

What to buy and what makes it special

• ground sweet paprika from dried red peppers — in 100 g and 500 g packs;
• the pack is labelled “GMO-free” with a 12-month shelf life;
• ask the producer about other varieties (hot, smoked).

At retail, a 100 g pack has sold for about 50 UAH and a 500 g pack for about 175 UAH; prices change, so check current ones. The road from field to pack is long: seedlings are sown in spring, the first peppers are picked in summer, and in autumn they are strung and dried. While drying, the peppers lose about nine-tenths of their weight, and they are then ground at local mills. By various estimates, the Dobron villages produce 150 to 200 tonnes of finished spice a year. Both villages are mostly Hungarian, and it is Hungarian cooking — goulash, paprikash, bograch and homemade sausages — that made paprika indispensable here. Genuine Dobron paprika has a deep red colour and a sweetish, warm aroma; it goes into meat, marinades and the bograch simmering over an open fire.

Practical information

• Producer’s address: 39 Myru St, Mala Dobron, Uzhhorod district.
• Phones: +38 050 666 74 00, +38 050 666 75 00.
• Hours: not published — this is a producer, not a shop, so always arrange a visit in advance.
• Where else to buy: spice shops in Uzhhorod and online stores.

Getting there. Mala Dobron lies on the plain about 14 km from Uzhhorod, between the regional capital and Chop. From Uzhhorod the easiest way is by car or local bus towards Chop; the nearest railway stations are Uzhhorod and the major junction of Chop. The road is flat, with no mountain passes, so the stop fits easily into any route through Zakarpattia.

Please confirm by phone before your trip.

Photos: zaktour.gov.ua; svitassorti.com.ua; prom.ua.