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 |
| 7 Pod | Trinidad |
The 7 Pod (sometimes called 7 Pot, as in 1 pod will spice seven pots of
stew.) This variety is matched for heat by just a small number of other
Chinense varieties, namely the Bhut Jolokia, Bih Jolokia, the Naga Morich,
and the Trinidad Scorpion. The texture of the pods is very different to your
average capsicum. Rather than the smooth, shiny surface of most peppers,
the 7 pod has an almost papery texture and the pods start lime green rather
than the usual dark green. Seeds just acquired and germinating. Heat Level : 10 |
Seeds not available |
| Aji Umba | Suriname | Red chile from Surinam 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. 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 |
15 Seeds for $4.00 |
| Amazon Chile Roma | - | Seeds acquired from my friend Mario Dadomo,
Director of the Stuard Institute in Parma, Italy. Attractive pods with very
mild sweet flesh. Great in salads. Heat Level : 0-1 |
Seeds not available |
| Aribibi Gusano | Bolivia | Also known as the 'Caterpillar Pepper'. Seeds
acquired from my friend Mario Dadomo, Director of the Stuard Institute in
Parma, Italy. Photo taken in Parma. Plant fruiting. Heat Level : ? |
Seeds not available |
| Arriba a Saia | - |
Seeds just acquired and germinating. Heat Level : ? |
Seeds not available |
| 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. Heat Level : 10+ |
Sold out |
| Bhut Jolokia Chocolate | India |
Assam chilli growers Frontal Agritech have collected
a chocolate version of the World’s hottest chilli Bhut Jolokia.
This type is thought to be a
natural variant of Bhut Jolokia. The initiative has been taken to select the
genuine type in successive generations to give a pure variety. The chilli
has a pungency level similar to the red/orange Bhut Jolokia. Very rare.
Plant fruiting. Heat Level : 10+ |
Seeds not available |
| Bih Jolokia | India | See Bhut Jolokia. Another variation of the cultivar. I wanted to see the difference, if any to the Bhut. So far the pods look the same as the Bhut Jolokia. Heat Level : 10+ |
Seeds not available |
| Biquinho | Brazil |
Small 1-1.5cm 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 : 5-6 |
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 |
| Cajamarca | Peru |
Cajamarca is a beautiful fruit that starts a vibrant purple unique to C.
chinense varieties and matures to a rich red. The wonderful fragrant aroma
captures your attention with its intense, spicy citrus fragrance and the
classic Habanero fruity undertone.
Seeds just acquired from the Chile Pepper
Institute. Seeds germinating. Heat Level : 10 |
Seeds not available |
| CAP 1035 | - | Lovely shaped 2-3 cm pendent pods ripening from green to red. Very little heat at the bottom of the pod but the heat increases rapidly as you get to the seeds. Nice chinense flavour, not as pungent as a Habanero. Heat level : 8 |
15 Seeds for $4.00 |
| Cheiro White | Brazil | These bite size 1-1.5 cm pods grow on a
branching shrub like plant. The fruit ripens from green to a creamy
white. Subtle fruity, aromatic flavour. Excellent
used fresh for salsas and sauces. Heat Level : 5-6 |
Sold Out |
| Chupetinho | Brazil | Seeds acquired from my friend Mario Dadomo,
Director of the Stuard Institute in Parma, Italy. Very similar to the
Biquinho but hotter. Photo taken in Parma. Plant fruiting Heat Level : 9 |
Seeds not available |
|
Columbian Orange Lantern
PI 257127 |
Columbia | Lantern-shape pods ripen to approx 2-3 cm
from green to orange. Hot with a bit of a of "musky" Habanero type heat
and flavour. A
very attractive pod. Heat Level : 7 |
15 Seeds for $4.00 |
| Cumari | Brazil | These small pea size (3-5 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 |
| Datil | USA | This variety has been grown for about 300 years in St. Augustine Florida, and it's name in Spanish means "edible date". The pods are 1-2 inches long with shoulders 3/4 inch and mature from green to yellow. It has the a similar heat and aroma to the Habanero, except that the Datil is more fruity and much sweeter. This species is most readily distinguished by the three to five flowers at each node, the drooping pedicels and the circular constriction at the base of the fruit 'cap'. Plant fruiting. Heat level : 7-9 |
Seeds not available |
| 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 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+ |
Sold Out |
| Fatalii | Africa | Deadly hot but flavoursome chilli pepper from
the central African Republic. Tall plants produce heavy yields of bright
yellow tapered chillies 3-5 cm long. Related to the Habanero. Heat level : 9 |
15 Seeds for $4.00 |
| Fatalii Chocolate | Africa | Seeds just acquired. Seeds germinating. Heat Level : 9 |
Seeds not available |
| Habanero - | 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 |
Sold Out |
| Habanero Brown Large | Caribbean | Seeds just acquired and germinating. Heat Level : 10 |
Seeds not available |
| Habanero - | 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 - | 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 up to 450,000 SHUs units. Wonderful flavour. Heat Level : 10 |
15 Seeds for $4.00 |
| Habanero - | 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 - | Caribbean | These wonderful 1-2 cm 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. "Gold Bullet" is a trademark of the
Redwood City Seed Company. Heat Level : 10 |
15 Seeds for $4.00 |
| Habanero - | Caribbean | Seeds acquired from the Peperoncino Festival
in Diamante, Calabria, Italy - 2008. Habanero selection with tasty fruits ripening to
lemon colour. Heat Level : 10 |
15 Seeds for $4.00 |
| Habanero - | 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 |
15 Seeds for $4.00 |
| Habanero - | 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 |
Sold Out |
| Habanero - | Caribbean | Earlier and much
more productive in the North than regular Habaneros. Magnificent elongated lantern-shaped fruits are 3-5
cm long.
Longer 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 |
Sold Out |
| Habanero - | 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 - | 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 - | 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 |
Sold Out |
| Habanero - | Caribbean |
Hot Habanero chillies produced on a plant that is usually taller than the
average Habanero. Stunning purple flower. The fruit starts out black before
turning red. Heat Level : 10 |
15 Seeds for $4.00 |
| Habanero - | USA | These wonderful 1-2 cm 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 - | 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 - | 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 |
| Habanero - Yellow Bumpy |
USA |
Pendant fruits up to 4cm in length
mature from green to light yellow. A beautiful Habanero with a fruity
tropical taste. Plant height up to 45cm loaded with lots of fruits. Tasty
and ornamental. Heat Level : 9-10 |
Seeds not available |
| Limon | - |
Seeds just acquired and germinating. Heat Level : ? |
Seeds not available |
| Maraba Orange | Brazil |
Hot and prolific. 3-4 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 mauve tinge. Smokey fruit taste and aroma. Heat Level : 7 |
15 Seeds for $3.00 |
| 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 variety is from the same family as the Habanero and was developed by
the Chile Pepper Institute to have all the flavours of a Habanero but less
heat. The word 'suave' is Spanish for mellow, smooth or mild. The pods have
a citrus like flavour with an orange lemony overtone and an apricot aroma.
The heat is in the back of the mouth and throat and not on the lips and
tongue. The pungent fruits rate at around 850 units on the Scoville scale. Heat Level : 1 |
15 Seeds for $3.00 |
| Numex Suave Red Habanero | USA |
This variety is from the same family as the Habanero and was developed by
the Chile Pepper Institute to have all the flavours of a Habanero but less
heat. The word 'suave' is Spanish for mellow, smooth or mild. Seeds
germinating. Heat Level : 1 |
Seeds not available |
| 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 : 4 |
Sold Out |
| Peruvian Orange | Peru | Hot and prolific. Approx 3 cm
elongated, blocky and pointed pods ripen from light green to orange. Lovely
aroma and flavour. Now added to my list of favourites. Heat Level : 7 |
15 Seeds for $3.00 |
| Petenero | - |
Seeds just acquired and germinating. Heat Level : ? |
Seeds not available |
| Scarlet Lantern | Peru |
The pods start off white, change to purple and then go red.
Plant
fruiting. Heat Level : ? |
Seeds not available |
| Tobago Seasoning | Tobago | Pendent 2.5cm x 1.25 inch wrinkled fruits
turning from light green to orange to red. Plants can grow to nearly 0.6 m
tall. Fruit with strong smoky-tropical fruit flavour, but no heat. Heat Level : 0 |
Sold Out |
| Trinidad Douglah | Trinidad | Seeds just acquired. Seeds germinating. Heat Level : ? |
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 : 0-0.5 |
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. Hard to grow. First plant flowered then
died. New plant now fruiting. Heat Level : 10 |
Seeds not available |
| Trinidad Scorpion 'Moriuga Blend" |
Trinidad | Seeds just acquired. Seeds germinating. 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 |
