Aji Sivri

Similar to a cayenne pepper with strong fruity undertones and slight sweetness beneath the pungency.

Aji Sivri, also spelled Aci Sivri, is a traditional Turkish heirloom chili pepper variety that resembles an elongated cayenne pepper. The plants grow tall, reaching up to 3 feet, and are highly productive, often yielding 50 or more pods per plant. The fruits measure 5 to 10 inches long, slender and somewhat wrinkly, with a twisted shape. They start green and ripen to a glossy, vibrant attractive shiny red. Heat levels vary significantly from plant to plant but typically range from 5,000 to 30,000 Scoville Heat Units, offering a fruity, slightly sweet flavor profile with grassy notes and a clean finish. In Turkish cuisine, they are commonly eaten fresh when still green and pickled for tender seeds, or dried and ground into chili flakes and powders. The variety was introduced to the United States in the 1990s by the Seeds of Change seed company and is valued for its adaptability to shorter seasons and cooler climates. It may be related to other common Turkish peppers such as Aci Ilica or commercial selections like Ilica 256, as the name is somewhat generic meaning hot and pointed in Turkish.

Turkish heirloom variety with the generic name meaning 'hot pointed' in Turkish. Popular in Turkish cuisine and introduced to the US in the 1990s by Seeds of Change. Possibly related to Aci Ilica or Ilica 256 selections common among Turkish farmers.