Bottles of dendê oil, a heavy palm oil used in much of traditional Bahian cuisine, are sold throughout the market. The telltale red hue of dendê oil and its unforgettable aroma make it a signature ingredient in many of Bahia's most classic dishes. The majority of the dendê being sold at São Joaquim market is produced in Valença, a bayside city about two hours south of Salvador. Next to the bottles of dendê are bottles of malagueta peppers. These small but potent hot peppers are used to spice up much of local fare.