The Pepper Database · Heat, flavor, origin & growing data Browse the database →
Medium

Pepper profile

Chiltepin

Origin
Mexico/Southwest USA
Species
Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum
Ripe color
Red
Pod size
0.25-0.5 inch

Scoville heat range

50,000 – 100,000 SHU

Medium heat level

About Chiltepin

Chiltepin (also Chiltepín) is wild ancestor of many cultivated peppers. Rating 50,000-100,000 SHU, these tiny round peppers are considered by many as original wild chile. Known as ‘mother of all peppers’ in Mexico. The heat is intense but brief – locals say it’s ‘muy picante pero no dura’ (very hot but doesn’t last). Complex flavor with fruity and smoky notes. Often gathered wild in Arizona, Texas, and Northern Mexico. Used in salsas and as seasoning. State native plant of Texas. Cultural significance in Southwest.

Flavor profile

Complex fruity heat, slightly smoky

In the kitchen

Wild pepper - salsas, seasoning

Growing information

Difficulty
Moderate
Days to harvest
Wild/90-120 days
Plant height
24-60 inches

Sources

  1. Website or article PepperFriends — Lista completa delle varietà di Capsicum (opens in a new tab)
  2. Website or article Wikimedia Commons — Capsicum annuum Chiltepin 1zz.jpg (opens in a new tab)

Sources are added by editors when they verify a fact. Fields without a listed source are recorded from imports or model suggestions and shown as unreviewed until checked.

Similar peppers

Matches are rule based: same species and heat band first, then origin, then heat band. Compare with the top two →

Reviews & ratings

Reviews are closed for this pepper.