Dwarf Chiltepin

Species: Capsicum annuum | Origin: Mexico | Pungency: Hot

Dwarf Chiltepin (C. annuum var. glabriusculum) is a wild variety from the Mexican city of Hermosillo, which is one of the hottest cities in the country with a sub-tropical hot desert climate and is located in the centre of the northwestern state of Sonora. Officially named Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora, Sonora is one of the 31 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 72 municipalities, the capital and largest city of which being Hermosillo. The well branched, slender, shrub-like plants are quite early to set flowers and fruit and can grow to about four feet in height during the first year. The leaves are heart-shaped and dark green in colour and may develop some purple anthocyanin pigment if the plants are exposed to strong sun. The stems are green in colour with dark purple veins and the small flowers are five-petalled and white. The plants are extremely prolific and produce masses of small, spherical–ovoid-shaped chillies which start green and ripen through dirty green, several shades of orange and then to bright red.

The chillies have a slightly bitter aftertaste, which isn't unpleasant, but it's more pronounced when at the green stage. When fully ripe the fruit starts to turn soft and falls away from the calyx very easily (deciduous), and the flavour is very typical of Chiltepin. In both cases, the heat is sharp and short-lived and is mostly concentrated at the back of the throat and on the sides and tip of the tongue. Immature Chiltepins are often pickled or used in salsas. Ripe Chiltepins are often sun-dried and crushed and used as a seasoning for soups, stews, meats and bean dishes. They dry very easily and can also make for an interesting addition to the pepper grinder!

Page published on: 27th September 2020