Bulgarian Carrot Pepper
Also known as Shipka · Shipkas · Hot Carrot Pepper · Shifka
The Bulgarian Carrot is an open-pollinated Capsicum annuum from Bulgaria, with tapered pods that ripen a fluorescent orange and look like small carrots. Seed lists also sell it as Shipka or hot carrot pepper.
Growing
~75 days to maturity
Fruit size
4–10 cm
Flavor & Use
Sweet and fruity with tangy notes, crisp texture, and moderate heat that lingers pleasantly in the back of the throat.
Culinary
About
Pods are elongated and pointed, commonly about 4 to 9 cm long, and ripen from green through yellow to a glossy orange. The walls are thin, and the flesh is still crisp, which suits pickles, roasting, and salsa. Plants stay compact, often around 45 cm, and set fruit early. Flavor is sweet and fruity, with a tangy edge and a moderate heat.
Backstory
Seed lists place this pepper in Bulgaria, where it is called Shipka. How it left the country is not documented. Catalogs often repeat a rumor that seed came out from behind the Iron Curtain in the 1980s. No breeder or named cross is on record.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
ExploreNothing reputable documents a pedigree for this pepper.
Sources
FAQ
- How hot is Bulgarian Carrot Pepper?
- Capsi’s sourced range is 15,846 SHU (Lab-verified). 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 Bulgarian Carrot Pepper taste like?
- Sweet and fruity with tangy notes, crisp texture, and moderate heat that lingers pleasantly in the back of the throat.
- How do I grow Bulgarian Carrot Pepper?
- Bulgarian Carrot Pepper: about 75 days to maturity, temperate climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.
- What can I substitute for Bulgarian Carrot Pepper?
- Jalapeño, Cayenne, Orange Habanero