Tour Mayhem Farms and Discover Northeast Florida’s Famous Datil Pepper

As you travel around Northeast Florida, you’ll likely spot Datil peppers on local menus, at produce markets, and bottled into sauces on shelves. Even though it’s hard to find them outside of this region, this sweet and spicy pepper is a culinary icon around here. When you visit, you have a chance to learn about this rare pepper at Mayhem Farms in Pomona Park. The free Putnam County farm tour offers a firsthand look at this mysterious local delicacy.

What is a Datil Pepper?

This elusive, tasty pepper is a culturally significant piece of northeast Florida’s history. It is traced back to the Minorcans who settled in this part of the state in the 1700s. They are credited with introducing the pepper to this area, but every pepper has a lineage, and there are differing ideas as to where this one originally came from. Its full history remains unknown to this day. The sweet heat of this pepper is quite different from any others you’ve tried, but the mystique of this plant adds to the allure, too. 

The Datil pepper has become a fascinating staple in this corner of Florida. Passionate farmers are trying to make sure this iconic culinary staple is here for generations, though. It’s a labor of love, as this plant isn’t easy to grow, but it’s a part of our culture and identity. It’s also one of the best peppers you’ll ever taste!

About Mayhem Farms 

The land that makes up Mayhem Farms comes with its own storied past as well. Troy Main’s great-great grandfather, Reverend A.E. Main, relocated from New York and purchased this land in 1883. He didn’t move to Pomona Park to grow Datil peppers, though. He came to Florida on a mission to find a better climate to suit his daughter who had breathing issues. 

Fast-forward more than 140 years and that land has remained in the Main family since then. Troy’s great-great grandfather grew oranges on the property for a bit, and was actually the first President of the Northeast Florida Orange Growers’ Association. Troy spent time on the farm as a child, and he knew he wanted to eventually retire there. However, what he didn’t plan for was a retirement that held a new adventure for him and his family – growing Datil peppers. 

He first tried Datil pepper sauce about 25 years ago when his friend, Scott Murray, urged him to try some sauce he had made. It was his Minorcan MeMa’s homemade recipe, and Troy gave it a taste. He was instantly hooked – and that taste has led him on a mission to save the Datil pepper from extinction. So what was it that made him so enamored with this pepper? He described the flavor profile as being “Fruity and citrusy with floral undertones.” He said, “I liked how the flavor was fast rising, allowing you to fully taste the pepper before it leveled off.” 

One taste was all it took, and he started growing peppers for himself on his family’s 100 acres. With an onsite, spring-fed lake, he was able to pull water for the plants. The low pH of the water helped the peppers thrive, and his passion project eventually grew into a family-run farm that now sells commercially as well. His peppers are also used to create two amazing sauces that have won multiple awards: Mayhem “Original” Datil Pepper Hot Sauce and Mayhem Datilmen’s Gold BBQ Sauce.

Taste the Famous Datil Peppers

The flavor profile of Datil peppers is intriguingly unique. You’ll feel the heat alongside the sweet and tangy flavor, and you’ll quickly realize how this is different from other more common peppers you’ve tried. You can technically eat them when they’re green, but they develop their signature sweet flavor and full heat once they ripen to orange. At that point, you get the true flavor that Datil peppers are known for. 

You’ll likely be able to find menu items that include Datil peppers at some point during your stay, but you can also try the sauces. They’re sold onsite at Mayhem Farms and at Lemon Street Market and Mercantile in downtown Palatka. If you’re looking for the perfect souvenir to take back home, that’s a great item that truly defines the culture of our region. 

You can also order fresh Datil peppers from Mayhem Farms’ website and those can be shipped anywhere in the continental United States during the peak growing season, which is June-December. Just place your order by Sunday, and your peppers will be hand-picked on the following Monday and shipped.

Take a Free Tour of Mayhem Farms

When you’re here in the area, we encourage you to plan a visit to Mayhem Farm. Tours are free, but you’ll need to make an appointment in advance to visit the Datil pepper farm. Since this is a working farm, please plan at least a couple of days in advance. Troy will give you a great tour and teach you about the history of this special plant. He’ll also share his personal tips to help you if your goal is to grow your own Datil peppers. 

Try Growing Your Own Datil Peppers

Once you take a tour and learn about this interesting plant, you may get the urge to try to grow it yourself. While this isn’t a plant you can commonly find, Mayhem Farms sells plants and seeds onsite to help you get started. Seeds can also be shipped within the continental United States. 

A word of caution, though – these plants are finicky. Datil peppers require a lot of tender, loving care, and can be hard to grow. As part of their mission to help spread the word about this culinary treasure, Troy will gladly share his advice. He’s learned a lot through trial and error through his years of growing Datil peppers. Here are a few basic things to remember, though. 

• Don’t overwater the plants. If you water them too much, they essentially quit working. You want the roots to search for water, as that helps them to develop more, and thus creates a stronger plant. 
• Grow them in a pot. When you plant them in the ground, it’s harder to control the water, and the plants could be more sensitive to developing a condition known as “wet feet.” 
• Pinch the tops. A bushy Datil pepper plant will be more productive, so pinch the tops off of the plants about every three weeks to help it grow fuller. 
• Plan for a three-month growing cycle. Mayhem Farms plants their seeds in March, and they start seeing peppers in June. By July, the peppers are fully ripe. 

It may seem like a lot to remember, but Troy will give you a free lesson for growing Datil peppers when you take a farm tour. If you order seeds, he’ll also send along in-depth instructions about how to grow Datil peppers.

More Fun in Putnam County 

A tour of Mayhem Farms offers a local look at one of Northeast Florida’s most iconic culinary traditions. You’ll leave with a new appreciation for this coveted pepper and will have a truly authentic Florida experience. You can also celebrate with us each October at the annual Datil Fest that takes place along the St. Johns River. Up-to-date information on this, and all local events, can be found on our event calendar. For more fun things to do in Pomona Park, you can also download the Visit Putnam FL app for Apple or Android. 

Troy’s Favorite Datil Pepper Recipes:

Mayhem White Chocolate Oreo Datil Fudge:

Oreos and Datil peppers? At first, you may be scratching your head on that one, as it can initially sound like a strange combination. However, the sweet and spice flavors complement each other perfectly, and this is a great Datil pepper recipe that Troy’s wife, Heidi, likes to make.   

Sweet Pepper Datil Relish:

Another of Troy’s favorite ways to put his Datil peppers to use is to share them with his  mother-in-law, Carol. This is her special Datil pepper recipe, and it is a family favorite.