Cape Fear Pirate Candy: Sweet Heat Made in North Carolina

Cape Fear Pirate Candy began with candied jalapeños made at home.

Tara and Travis were simply looking for something they could do together. Then their neighbors tried what they made.

And got hooked.

Soon, their neighbors’ neighbors wanted some, too.

What started in one kitchen grew into a line of sweet, spicy products made by hand in North Carolina’s Cape Fear region.

Sweet first. Heat after.

Cape Fear Pirate Candy’s products live in that place where sweet and spicy stop competing and start making each other better.

The original candied peppers bring sweetness up front, followed by enough heat to keep the next bite interesting. They can be served with cream cheese and crackers, added to burgers and sandwiches, spooned over grilled meats, or used anywhere a little sweet heat belongs.

The line has continued to grow beyond peppers, with salsas and other bold Carolina flavors joining the collection.

An award-winning Carolina favorite

By 2017, Cape Fear Pirate Candy’s Honey Kissed Candied Banana Peppers had earned recognition at the North Carolina Specialty Food Awards, winning both Best Condiment and Overall Grand Champion.

That award confirmed what neighbors had already figured out: this was not just an interesting homemade recipe. It was something people wanted to keep eating—and sharing.

Cape Fear Pirate Candy at A Bit of Carolina

Cape Fear Pirate Candy is especially at home in a North Carolina gift because it offers more than a familiar Southern flavor.

It has a story.

Two people started making something together. Their neighbors spread the word. A home-kitchen idea became an award-winning product line made in the Cape Fear region.

Its candied peppers and salsas work especially well in:

  • North Carolina food gift baskets

  • Hostess gifts

  • Grill and barbecue gifts

  • Snack and appetizer gifts

  • Care packages

  • Corporate and client gifts

  • Custom Carolina gift bundles

Pair a jar with crackers, sauces, nuts, or other North Carolina pantry favorites—or send it to someone who appreciates a gift with a little personality and a little heat.

Made by hand in the Cape Fear region of North Carolina.

Shop Cape Fear Pirate Candy at A Bit of Carolina.

Beth HessComment