Brown Jalapeño
Also known as Chocolate Jalapeño · Jalapeño Chocolate
The Brown Jalapeño, also sold as Chocolate Jalapeño, is a Capsicum annuum jalapeño that ripens from green to chocolate brown. Pods run larger than a standard jalapeño, with a smoky-sweet flavor and heat that growers who have tasted it call mild.
About 1/5 the typical heat of a Capsi Jalapeño (25,086 SHU).
Growing
~75 days to maturity
Fruit size
10–15 cm
Flavor & Use
Smoky and earthy with a touch of natural sweetness, offering more depth and less bright vegetal notes than standard green jalapeños.
Culinary
About
Fruit is the usual jalapeño shape, tapered and thick-walled, mostly 4 to 6 inches long, with smooth skin that starts green and finishes chocolate brown. Ripe pods taste earthier and a little sweeter than a green jalapeño, with a light smokiness behind the usual jalapeño flavor. Plants are productive and often need a stake once the crop loads up. Baker Creek lists 70 to 80 days. They suit poppers, roasting, salsa, pickles, and a home-smoked chipotle-style pepper.
Backstory
The fullest seed-trade account is Jim Duffy's. In 2015 his friend Peter Merle, in the Canary Islands, handed over seed of a large jalapeño a neighbor had already been growing for a few years, with a guess that the brown color came from an accidental garden cross. Baker Creek sells the same name as an heirloom and does not name parents. A few other shops say the line came from Brazilian street markets instead.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
ExploreParents
Sources
FAQ
- How hot is Brown Jalapeño?
- Capsi’s sourced range is 200–8,000 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 Brown Jalapeño taste like?
- Smoky and earthy with a touch of natural sweetness, offering more depth and less bright vegetal notes than standard green jalapeños.
- How do I grow Brown Jalapeño?
- Brown Jalapeño: about 75 days to maturity, subtropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 8-11.
- What can I substitute for Brown Jalapeño?
- standard jalapeño, poblano pepper, ancho pepper, Jalapeño, Poblano, Ancho, Mulato Chile