Ají Caballero
Also known as Gentleman Pepper · Puerto Rican Jelly Bean Hot Chili Pepper · Caballero hot chili peppers
A rare hot chili pepper from Puerto Rico traditionally used as the basis for Pique sauce and other local condiments; also known as the gentleman pepper.
Growing
~90 days to maturity
Fruit size
1.9–2 cm
Flavor & Use
Has a solid, hot and spicy flavor. The variety is more similar to a Tabasco type than classic South American Aji types.
Culinary
About
The Ají Caballero, also known as the gentleman pepper or Puerto Rican Jelly Bean Hot Chili Pepper, is a scarce variety of Capsicum frutescens from Puerto Rico. The small, slender peppers stand vertically on the plant (unlike most peppers that hang down) and ripen from green to orange to red. It is the most traditional pepper used to make pique, a spicy Puerto Rican table condiment, and is excellent for hot sauces and flakes.
Backstory
Also known as Gentleman Pepper or Puerto Rican Jelly Bean Hot Chili Pepper. The fruit of this plant stands vertically, unlike other peppers that hang down from the branches.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
ExploreAjí Caballero is a traditional landrace.
Sources
FAQ
- How hot is Ají Caballero?
- Capsi’s sourced range is 30,000–35,000 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 Ají Caballero taste like?
- Has a solid, hot and spicy flavor. The variety is more similar to a Tabasco type than classic South American Aji types.
- How do I grow Ají Caballero?
- Ají Caballero: about 90 days to maturity, tropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.
- What can I substitute for Ají Caballero?
- Tabasco pepper, Thai chili