Black Heart Pepper

Fruits already taste fruity and sweet while still black, and they keep a clear chili aroma when they ripen red.

Plants grow up to 1.2 meters tall with purple flowers and stems that can appear dark purple to black. Young leaves often show purple veins that may fade to dark green. The heart-shaped fruits measure about 2 to 3 centimeters, start black or dark purple, and finish deep red, with relatively thick walls. Heat is medium-hot and rises in a sunny stand. Flavor is fruity and sweet already in the black stage, and the ripe red fruits suit pickling, stuffing, and drying. Start seeds indoors in mid-February after a 24-hour soak, transplant after the last frost into full sun and well-drained soil, and water thoroughly but infrequently. In a sheltered spot the last fruits can ripen into November.

Michael Theurl bred this chili in his garden in Zirl, Tyrol, crossing two of his favorite peppers in 2009 and selecting the line afterward. With help from Open Source Seeds he registered it as an amateur variety around 2019, under the working name Paprika 132x, as the first chili released under that open-source seed license.

How hot is Black Heart Pepper?

Capsi has not yet documented heat for this variety. 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 Black Heart Pepper taste like?

Fruits already taste fruity and sweet while still black, and they keep a clear chili aroma when they ripen red.

How do I grow Black Heart Pepper?

Black Heart Pepper: temperate climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

What can I substitute for Black Heart Pepper?

Black Hungarian, Red Cherry Chili