Capsicum chinense  

Named as in a plant "from China". This is incorrect though, like all Capsicum species, it originated in the New World, however, the Dutch physician, Nikolaus von Jacquin, who named this species in 1776, got his seed from the Caribbean while collecting on behalf of Emperor Francis I, and thought that they had originated from China. 

The oldest known specimen ever found was a single intact pod, probably a wild form, that was discovered in the Pre-ceramic levels (6,500 B.C.) in Guitarrero Cave in coastal Peru. Fruit shape can vary from long and slender to short and obtuse, with some as large as limes or large plums, others, as small as pine nuts or even grains of wheat, and between the two extremes are many different sizes. Fruit can be extremely pungent and aromatic, with persistent pungency when eaten. The best known cultivars are the very hot Habanero chilli peppers. 

Pronounced as 'chi-NEN-see'. 

Name

Origin

Description

Seeds Available

Aji Umba Suriname Red chile from Suirnam that will fill you with liquid excitement. Also called Ojemma or Adjumba. This lovely pod looks similar to the Habanero but is more "box-like" in shape, about 1 to 1.5 inches in length. Wonderful aroma and flavour. Light lime green pods ripen to yellow orange to orange red  on a shrub like plant. Use as you would the Habanero in hot sauces, salsas and for drying and smoking.

Heat Level : 9-10

15 Seeds for $4.00
Bhut Jolokia India This chilli is known by many names in the different Indian provinces. The most common names include Naga Jolokia, Bih Jolokia, Nagahari, Raja Mircha, Raja chilli or Borbih Jolokia. For example Bih Jolokia translates to 'poison chilli' in Assamese. Bhut Jolokia translates to 'Ghost chilli' probably due to its ghostly bite. Raja Mircha means 'King of Chillies'. Naga is Indian for snake. Now recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the hottest chilli in the world at over 1,000,000 SHU's. Limited seeds from first crop.

Heat Level : 10+

5 Seeds for $6.00
Biquinho Brazil Small 1-2cm long tear shaped fruit ripening from green to red. Wonderful subtle chinense flavour without the excessive heat of the Habanero. Nice bite size morsels that are now one of my favourites.

Heat level : 5

15 Seeds for $4.00
Broome Australia A tall plant produces good yields of 2.75 inches long by 1 inch wide, almost square shaped pods. Peppers are very hot and turn from green to red when mature, but do so in splotches. A rare variety from the northern coast of Western Australia.

Heat Level : 8           

15 Seeds for $4.00
Burkina Yellow Scotch Bonnet Africa A very flavourful, highly aromatic and very hot Habanero type from Africa.
 

Heat Level : 9

15 Seeds for $4.00
CAP 1035 -

Seeds just acquired and germinated.

Heat level : ?

Seeds not available
Cheiro White Brazil These bite size 1-1.5 cm pods grow on a branching shrub like plant. Subtle fruity, aromatic flavour. Excellent used fresh for salsas and sauces.

Heat Level : 3-4

15 seeds for $3.00
Columbia Red

PI 257123

Columbia This elongated pod dawns a bearable heat and a medium thick flesh. Ripens from a dark green to red to about 2.5 inches long. Something for the Hab-Heads looking for a little bit less heat.

Heat Level : 6-7

15 seeds for $3.00
Columbian Orange Lantern

PI 257127

Columbia Lantern-shape pods ripen to approx 1.25 inches from green to orange. Hot with a bit of a "musky" Habanero type heat.  A very attractive pod.

Heat Level : 7

15 Seeds for $4.00
Cumari Brazil These small pea size (3-4 mm) pods grow on a branching shrub like plant. Very prolific. Extremely aromatic and very fruity. Excellent used fresh for salsas and sauces. A little bit will go along way with these bite size morsels. One of my favourites.

Heat Level : 9

15 seeds for $4.00
Dorset Naga England/

Bangladesh

‘Dorset Naga’ is a Capsicum chinense developed by Peppers by Post in West Dorset. It was selected from ‘Naga Morich’, a chilli held in high regard by Britian’s Bangladeshi community. The variety 'Dorset Naga' was developed through a selection process over several years from a Bangladeshi landrace chilli. A cousin of the Naga Jolokia. The wedge-shaped fruit start out green and turn red, and can be harvested at either stage. They can be up to 2 to 3 cm wide at the shoulders and 4 to 5 cm long, and are produced on large, late maturing plants that need plenty of space to grow. Tested at over 800,000 SHUs.

Heat Level : 10+

10 Seeds for $6.00
Fatalii Africa Deadly hot but flavoursome chilli pepper from the central African Republic. Tall plants produce heavy yields of bright yellow tapered chillies 2-3 inches long. Related to the Habanero. 

Heat level : 9

15 seeds for $4.00
Fidalga - Seeds acquired in a swap from Brazil. Seeds just acquired and germinated.

Heat level : 5

Seeds not available
 Girino - Seeds just acquired in a swap and germinating.

Heat Level : ?

Seeds not available
Habanero -

Barbados

Barbados A Habanero variety from Barbados. A slightly different shape from the normal Habanero. The fruit starts out green turning yellow/orange to red. Very attractive.

Heat level : 10

15 Seeds for $4.00
Habanero -

Caribbean Red

Caribbean This Habanero from the Caribbean, was then improved resulting in a fiercely hot chilli much hotter than a regular Habanero. The Caribbean Red has measured 445,000 SHUs, whereas regular Habaneros are about 260,000 SHUs. Bright red, wrinkled fruit, about 1.5 inches long with fruity overtones.

Heat Level : 10+

15 Seeds for $4.00
Habanero -

Chocolate

Caribbean The Chocolate Habanero is from the West Indies. It is also known as Brown Scotch Bonnet as well as the more obscure Congo Black. The dark green fruit turns deep brown as it matures and has a rich peppery flavour. This is one of the hottest Habaneros measuring over 400,000 SHUs units. Wonderful flavour.

Heat Level : 10+

15 Seeds for $4.00
Habanero -

Costa Rica Red

Costa Rica From the West Indies, where it is also known as the Bonney Pepper. This extremely hot variety was developed in Costa Rica in the early 1990s. Also known as the "Rica Red". The fruit starts out green turning yellow/orange to red. Very attractive.

Heat Level : 10

15 Seeds for $4.00
Habanero -

Golden Nugget

Caribbean These wonderful 1/2 inch long pods ripen from dark green to golden yellow on a small to medium plant. Extremely hot and aromatic with a fruity taste. Little heat poppers for hot sauces and salsa. One of my favourites.

Heat Level : 10

15 Seeds for $4.00
Habanero -

Lava Drop

- A small bushy plant with variegated leaves. The 2 cm fruit ripen from deep purple/black to red which can also be variegated. Stunningly attractive.

Heat Level : 9

15 Seeds for $4.00
Habanero -

Mustard

Caribbean Result from crossing orange and brown Habaneros. Stunning colour. Very pungent and good taste. Can grow larger than the other Habaneros.

Heat Level : 10

Seeds not available
Habanero -

Orange

Caribbean Classic Habanero which is very tasty and pungent. Large crop on a small bushy plant. Dark green fruit ripen to orange

Heat Level : 10

15 Seeds for $4.00
Habanero -

Paper Lantern

Caribbean Earlier and much more productive in the North than regular Habaneros. Magnificent elongated lantern-shaped fruits are 2-3 inches long. Bigger than our regular Habaneros, they pack the same mouth-blistering heat. Tall plants put on a colourful display through the summer as the fruits change from green to scarlet red as they ripen.

Heat Level : 10

15 Seeds for $4.00
Habanero -

Peach

Caribbean Habanero selection with tasty fruits ripening to peach colour. Seeds germinated awaiting fruit.

Heat Level : 10

Seeds not available
Habanero -

Peruvian White

Peru These wonderful bullet shaped pods ripen from lime green to creamy white on a small to medium plant. Extremely hot and aromatic with a fruity taste. Little heat poppers for hot sauces, salsa and salads. One of my favourites.

Heat Level : 9-10

15 Seeds for $4.00
Habanero -

Red

Caribbean Classic Habanero giving very good crops of very hot tasty fruit. Dark green fruit ripening to bright red.

Heat Level : 10

15 Seeds for $4.00
Habanero -

Red Savina (TM)

USA This chilli was in the Guinness Book of Records as the hottest chilli in the world. Tested at 577,00 SHUs. Eating one of these raw is like bungy jumping, you have to do it once in your life. "Red Savina"  is a trademark of the Redwood City Seed Company.

Heat Level : 10

10 seeds for $5.00
Habanero -

Tasmanian Red

Caribbean Scorching hot Habanero chillies produced on a plant that is naturally taller than the average Habanero. Stunning purple flower. The fruit starts out black before turning red. The first crop had variable heat from mild to hot.

Heat Level : 10

15 Seeds for $4.00
Habanero -

White Bullet (TM)

USA These wonderful 1/2 inch long bullet shaped pods ripen from green to white on a small to medium plant. Extremely hot and very aromatic. "White Bullet"  is a trademark of the Redwood City Seed Company.

Heat Level : 10

15 Seeds for $4.00
Habanero -

White (Mild)

Caribbean If you love the flavour of the Habanero, but don't like the heat, then this chilli is for you. The fruit starts out pale green turning creamy white as it matures. This plant grows into a larger bush than usual, up to at least 1 metre tall and is a prolific bearer.

Heat Level : 4-5

15 Seeds for $4.00
Habanero

Yellow

Caribbean This one is a beauty. Large ribbed pods with a very unique medium flesh. Very aromatic and very hot!  Use as you would any Habanero.

Heat Level : 10

15 Seeds for $4.00
Maraba Orange Brazil

Hot and prolific.  2-3 cm elongated, blocky pods ripen from green to a yellow/orange.  Smokey fruit taste and aroma.

Heat Level : 7

15 Seeds for $3.00
Maraba Yellow Brazil

Hot and prolific.  Approx 1-1.5 cm elongated, blocky pods ripen from green to yellow, sometimes showing a purple tinge.  Smokey fruit taste and aroma.

Heat Level : 7

15 Seeds for $3.00
Naga Jolokia India A new variety from the hilly regions of Assam (India). It is said to have recorded 855,000 SHU's in recent tests, making it one of the hottest chilli peppers. Just tried the first fruit. It is definitely a C. chinense and it is VERY HOT. At least a 10. Usually the fruit gets hotter as the plant matures.

Heat Level : 10+

No seeds available
Naga Morich India OH WOW. Heat at 1,000,000+ SHU's. Not for the faint hearted. These are for the people who ask - "what's the hottest chilli you have".  Twin brother of the Bhut Jolokia.

Heat Level : 10+

10 Seeds for $6.00
Numex Suave Orange Habanero USA This chilli is the same family as a Habanero. The word "suave" is Spanish for mellow, smooth or mild. The Chocolate Habanero measures 400,000 SHUs, but the Suave Orange measures only 835 SHUs. The Chilli Pepper Institute developed this chilli with all the flavours of the Habanero but much less heat. This is a must have chilli for cooks who like the taste of the Habanero. The Suave has a citrus like flavour with an orange lemony overtone and an apricot aroma. The mild heat is in the back of the mouth and throat and not on the lips and tongue.

Heat Level : 1

15 Seeds for $3.00
Numex Suave Yellow Habanero USA As per Numex Suave Orange Habanero above only Yellow but with slightly less heat.

Heat Level : 1

15 Seeds for $3.00
Peruvian Chinense Peru Lovely colourful 7-9 cm pendent pods start out green turning to orange/brown on a bushy plant. Prolific producer. Crisp flesh and medium heat make them great in salads.

Heat Level : 5-6

15 Seeds for $3.00
 Tobago Seasoning Tobago Pendent 2 inch x 1.25 inch wrinkled fruits turning from light green to orange to red. Plants 2 feet tall x 2˝ feet wide. Fruits with strong smokey-tropical fruit flavour, but no heat. Seeds just acquired and germinating.

Heat Level : 0

Seeds not available
Trinidad Perfume Trinidad Wonderful, aromatic pods with a capped-lantern shape. It has the aroma and flavour of the Capsicum chinense species but no heat. Ripens from light green to yellow. Sturdy productive plant. Use as you would a Habanero for sharing with children in the garden or entertaining non-chilli head guests. 

Heat Level : 0

15 Seeds for $3.00
Trinidad Scorpion Trinidad Just a quick look at the pods on the Trinidad Scorpion plant tell you that they aren't going to be mild. The plants themselves are quite tall and produce a good number of pods which mature from green - orange - red when ripe. Their characteristic shape sees a two or three inch pendant pod which tapers to a sharp point, resembling a tail - hence the name, Trinidad Scorpion. Plant flowering awaiting fruit.

Heat Level : 10

Seeds not available
True Jamaican Scotch Bonnet Jamaica A very compact, densely foliaged plants bear an abundance of bright yellow or red, thin-skinned hot peppers that are shaped like a tam o' shanter. Actually a type of squash pepper. Interesting shape and spicy taste make this pepper good to eat fresh, pickle, or use as a garnish. Seeds just acquired and germinated.

Heat Level : 10

Seeds not available
Yellow Bumpy USA Pendent 1.5 inch x 1.25 inch wrinkled and ridged yellow-orange fruits on 1.5 feet tall x 2 feet wide plants. Very hot with good smokey-tropical fruit flavour. Seeds just acquired and germinated.

Heat Level : 9-10

Seeds not available

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