Why People Go Crazy For These Peppers In Small Town West Virginia

West Virginia has its own special food culture, inspiring passion and dedication from Mountaineers. There's no question that one of the defining items in West Virginia cooking is a jar of perfectly seasoned Oliverio peppers.

It all started in Clarksburg in the 1930s.

Antoinette Oliverio perfected her recipe for peppers in perfectly seasoned Italian sauce while working in her family's grocery store.

Her son, Frank, got the idea to can the peppers and started distributing them in 1972.

Now the family-owned business creates a variety of hot and sweet peppers in sauce, as well as sauces on their own and peppers in vinegar.

All around West Virginia, the peppers are now a favorite addition to burgers...

...or grilled cheese...

...or pizza, or just about any meal.

The are an essential ingredient in the Giovanni sandwich, a specialty unique to West Virginia.

A classic Giovanni is made with hamburger, American cheese, Oliverio peppers in sauce, and Texas Toast.

You can get the peppers at the Oliverio store in Clarksburg.

Address: 280 N Ohio Ave, Clarksburg, WV 26301.

Or you can find them in many supermarkets in West Virginia.

If you unfortunately don't live in West Virginia, don't worry! You can still order these delicious peppers online from the Oliverio website. The website also has plenty of other recipes for inspiration.

How do you like to eat your Oliverio peppers?

See this list for more iconic West Virginian foods, or take a look at these 11 restaurants that define West Virginia.