# Aji Rico

Also known as Aji Rico F1.
Species: Capsicum baccatum.

Aji Rico is a Capsicum baccatum f1 hybrid from Wisconsin, United States. Capsi’s sourced range is 500–30,000 SHU (Vendor Claim). Flavor is citrus, fruity, sweet, earthy. Used for Excellent fresh for snacking or salads, ideal in salsas, hot sauces, soups and cooked dishes, thin walls make it easy to dry into flavorful homemade paprika or flakes. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.

## Heat sources

- 1,000–5,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Aji Rico Pepper Seeds
  https://pepperjoe.com/products/aji-rico-pepper-seeds

- 1,000–5,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Pepper, Hot, Aji Rico Hybrid, AAS Winners
  https://www.totallytomato.com/product/T03752/9

- 30,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Organic Non-GMO Aji Rico F1 Hot Pepper
  https://www.highmowingseeds.com/organic-non-gmo-aji-rico-f1-hot-pepper.html

- 500 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Aji Rico Pepper Seeds
  https://pepperjoe.com/products/aji-rico-pepper-seeds

- 500–1,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Aji Rico F1 Organic Pepper Seeds
  https://www.osborneseed.com/products/aji-rico-f1-organic-pepper-seeds

## Heritage

F1 hybrid

Aji Rico is an F1 hybrid. Named parents aren't linked in Capsi yet.

Credit: Jim Nienhuis (University of Wisconsin–Madison) / PanAmerican Seed · 2017

Parents:
- Unknown (Unknown parent)
- Unknown (Unknown parent)

UW-Madison and PanAmerican Seed both present Aji Rico as a 2017 F1 Capsicum baccatum hybrid from Jim Nienhuis’s program. Neither they nor AAS name the two inbred parents; commercial seed is remade each year as a hybrid.

## Page sources

- [Official AAS winner profile with plant habit, fruit size, days to maturity and flavor notes](https://all-americaselections.org/product/pepper-aji-rico/)
- [Breeder PanAmerican Seed technical page with heat level, fruit dimensions, maturity and culture data](https://www.panamseed.com/Vegetables-Herbs/plant_info.aspx?phid=048300001036967)
- [University of Wisconsin Seed to Kitchen Collaborative listing confirming breeder Jim Nienhuis and performance notes](https://seedtokitchen.horticulture.wisc.edu/peppers.html)
- [Plant library entry stating Scoville range 1,000–5,000 SHU and growing requirements](https://mygardenlife.com/plant-library/hot-pepper-aji-rico-capsicum-baccatum)
- [Grower variety spotlight with heat observations, yield, flavor and culinary uses](https://happyacres.blog/2022/11/25/variety-spotlight-aji-rico-pepper/)
- [Detailed sensory review of flavor, heat build, appearance and productivity](https://pepperdiaries.com/aji-rico-pepper-review/)
- [Seed catalog listing with SHU range, plant size, days to harvest and description](https://pepperjoe.com/products/aji-rico-pepper-seeds)

## FAQ
### How hot is Aji Rico?

Capsi’s sourced range is 500–30,000 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 Aji Rico taste like?

Juicy and crunchy with refreshing citrus notes, soft fruity sweetness, light earthiness and a mild heat that builds slowly to a pleasant tingle. Often compared to a red bell pepper with added citrus; flavor intensifies when fully ripe red.

### How do I grow Aji Rico?

Aji Rico: about 75 days to maturity, warm-season climate, full sun, hardiness zones 3-11.

### What can I substitute for Aji Rico?

Capsi does not have that recorded yet.

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