# Aji Charapita

Also known as Ají Charapita, Charapita, Charapilla, Yellow Fireballs, Wild Peruvian Chili, Tettinas de Monk, Ají Charapa.
Species: Capsicum chinense.

Aji Charapita is a Capsicum chinense landrace from Northern Amazon rainforest (Loreto and Ucayali regions), Peru. Capsi’s sourced range is 72,752 SHU (Lab-verified; typical 72,752). Flavor is fruity, citrusy, sweet, floral, tropical. Used for fresh finishing spice, salsas and sauces, rice and soups, marinades and condiments, criolla sauce with lime and onion. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.
About 2.9 times a Capsi Jalapeño (25,086 SHU typical).

## Heat sources

- 72,752 SHU · Lab-verified
  Malak Alghamdi, Thirumurugan Rathinasabapathy, Slavko Komarnytsky (2025) Int. J. Mol. Sci. · HPLC
  DOI: 10.3390/ijms26104916
  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26104916

- 50,000 SHU · Official breeder
  Matthew Orwat (UF/IFAS Extension) (2022) UF/IFAS Extension Washington County
  https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/washingtonco/2022/03/25/charapita-pepper-a-specialty-pepper-with-sweet-heat/

- 30,000–50,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  PepperScale
  https://pepperscale.com/aji-charapita/

- 30,000–50,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Tyler Farms
  https://www.tyler-farms.com/aji-charapita-pepper-seeds/

## Heritage

Landrace

Aji Charapita is a traditional landrace.

INIA germplasm notes and a 2026 Amazonian field study treat Charapita as native Peruvian ecotypes with no named parents. Slow Food and Baker Creek describe the same locally kept Iquitos–Pucallpa jungle type, not a planned hybrid.

## Page sources

- [Peer-reviewed HPLC capsaicinoid profile and SHU for Aji Charapita](https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/10/4916)
- [UF/IFAS Extension specialty pepper profile with heat comparison](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/washingtonco/2022/03/25/charapita-pepper-a-specialty-pepper-with-sweet-heat/)
- [Slow Food Ark of Taste entry on traditional Amazonian Charapita](https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/charapita-pepper/)
- [Baker Creek RareSeeds catalog with provenance and growing notes](https://www.rareseeds.com/pepper-hot-aji-charapita)
- [Atlas Obscura culinary and cultural profile](https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/aji-charapita)
- [Pepper Geek origin, flavor, and growing profile](https://peppergeek.com/aji-charapita-peppers/)
- [Specialty Produce facts, uses, and flavor description](https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Aji_Charapita_Chile_Peppers_15554.php)

## FAQ
### How hot is Aji Charapita?

Capsi’s sourced range is 72,752 SHU (Lab-verified; typical 72,752). 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 Aji Charapita taste like?

Bright citrus and sweet floral notes with tropical fruit character that builds into a moderate slow-burn heat; ripe yellow pods are tangier and less grassy than green ones.

### How do I grow Aji Charapita?

Aji Charapita: about 100 days to maturity, tropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

### What can I substitute for Aji Charapita?

aji amarillo, cayenne, habanero (milder heat)

Page: https://web.thecapsi.app/pepper/aji-charapita
Catalog: https://web.thecapsi.app/data