Capsi’s sourced range is 35,000–100,000 SHU (Vendor Claim). Capsi uses a sourced range and a trust tier, not a single marketing number. How we verify heat: https://web.thecapsi.app/learn/heat-and-capsaicin/how-we-measure-heat

How do I grow Acrata?

Acrata: about 90 days to maturity, subtropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

What can I substitute for Acrata?

Capsi does not have that recorded yet.

Acrata (Goat's Weed)

Also known as Goat's Weed · Black Cobra · Goat Weed Pepper · Black Cobra Pepper · Acrata el Viagra Natural

Acrata, also known as Goat's Weed or Black Cobra pepper, is a striking Venezuelan Capsicum annuum heirloom prized for its ornamental upright pods that ripen through green, black, and red stages and its distinctive pubescent foliage.

About 4 times a Capsi Jalapeño (25,086 SHU typical).

Growing

~90 days to maturity

Fruit size

5–8 cm

Flavor & Use

Neutral peppery taste with biting bitterness and little fruitiness or complexity; clean heat best appreciated when dried.

neutralpepperybitter

Culinary

dried flakes or powdersauces and salsassoups and stewsseasonings for meats, fish, and vegetables

About

Acrata produces slender, conical pods averaging 5–8 cm long that grow upright from the plant. They ripen from green to jet black to bright red, often displaying multiple colors simultaneously for strong visual appeal. The plant features fine silvery hairs on stems and leaves (a rare trait for C. annuum), is bushy and productive, and delivers medium heat with a neutral, slightly bitter peppery flavor best suited to dried or cooked applications.

Backstory

Acrata (meaning 'anarchic' or 'free' in Spanish) is a traditional Venezuelan heirloom Capsicum annuum variety, also known as Goat's Weed or Black Cobra. The name Goat's Weed refers to its fuzzy, silvery-haired foliage; it is prized for dramatic color-changing pods and has a reputation in Italian cultivation as 'el Viagra Natural' due to folk aphrodisiac lore.

Appearance

ShapeConical

ColorGreen · Black · Red

Size5–8 cm

WallThin

SkinSmooth

Growing

SunFull

WaterModerate

ClimateSubtropical

Days to maturity90 days

Plant height90–190 cm

Spacing60 cm

HardinessZones 9-11

Heritage

Explore

Nothing reputable documents a pedigree for this pepper.

Sources

FAQ

How hot is Acrata?: Capsi’s sourced range is 35,000–100,000 SHU (Vendor Claim). Capsi uses a sourced range and a trust tier, not a single marketing number. How we verify heat: https://web.thecapsi.app/learn/heat-and-capsaicin/how-we-measure-heat
What does Acrata taste like?: Neutral peppery taste with biting bitterness and little fruitiness or complexity; clean heat best appreciated when dried.
How do I grow Acrata?: Acrata: about 90 days to maturity, subtropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.
What can I substitute for Acrata?: Capsi does not have that recorded yet.