# Calabrian Chili

Also known as Calabrian Chili Pepper, Peperoncino Calabrese, Calabrian Chile, Hot Calabrian Pepper, Diavolicchio, Devil’s Kiss, Peperone Piccante Calabrese.
Species: Capsicum annuum.

Calabrian Chili is a Capsicum annuum landrace from Calabria, Italy. Capsi’s sourced range is 5,000–70,000 SHU (Official breeder). Flavor is fruity, smoky, sweet, tangy, bright. Used for pasta sauces, pizza, nduja sausage, chili oil, antipasto. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.

## Heat sources

- 5,000–70,000 SHU · Official breeder
  (2025) Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 69, 24 March 2025
  https://gazzettaufficiale.biz/atti/2025/20250069/25A01771.htm

- 40,000–50,000 SHU · Official breeder
  Accademia Italiana del Peperoncino
  https://www.peperoncino.org/accademia/mostra-peperoncini-sul-mare/diavolicchio-diamante/

- 25,000–40,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  DeLallo
  https://www.delallo.com/peppers/sc/calabrian-chili-peppers/

- 25,000–40,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Spices Inc.
  https://spicesinc.com/calabrian-chile-flakes

- 25,000–40,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Roland Foods
  https://rolandfoods.com/blog/what-are-calabrian-chili-peppers

- 25,000–40,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Pepper Joe's
  https://pepperjoe.com/products/piccante-calabrese-pepper-seeds

- 30,000–40,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  RB Sementi
  https://www.rbsementi.com/it/peperoncino-diavolicchio-calabrese.html

- 40,000–50,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Tutto Calabria
  https://www.tuttocalabria.com/en/il-peperoncino-calabrese/

- 100,000–150,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Tutto Calabria
  https://www.tuttocalabria.com/en/il-peperoncino-calabrese/

## Heritage

Landrace

Calabrian Chili is a traditional landrace.

A 2022 genome paper and the Accademia del Peperoncino both treat Diavolicchio as a Calabrian landrace of Capsicum annuum, with no named parents. Seed catalogs and the regional farm service list it as a local ecotype, not a modern cross.

## Page sources

- [2022 genome paper calling Calabrian Sigaretta (Diavolicchio) and Ciliegino landraces](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12863-022-01039-9)
- [Accademia Italiana del Peperoncino ecotype card for Diavolicchio Diamante](https://www.peperoncino.org/accademia/mostra-peperoncini-sul-mare/diavolicchio-diamante/)
- [2025 GI application and disciplinare, pungency band and admitted cultivars](https://gazzettaufficiale.biz/atti/2025/20250069/25A01771.htm)
- [EU registration of Peperoncino di Calabria PGI, 4 June 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/1273/oj/eng)
- [Culinary guide to sigaretta, naso di cane, and carasella forms](https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-are-calabrian-chiles-5088564)
- [Seed listing for the cherry Piccante Calabrese form, size and days](https://pepperjoe.com/products/piccante-calabrese-pepper-seeds)
- [Packer notes on oil-packed Calabrian chili, flavor, and kitchen use](https://www.delallo.com/blog/what-are-calabrian-chili-peppers/)
- [Calabria regional farm service page on the IGP and local cultivars](https://www.arsacweb.it/peperoncino-di-calabria-igp/)

## FAQ
### How hot is Calabrian Chili?

Capsi’s sourced range is 5,000–70,000 SHU (Official breeder). 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 Calabrian Chili taste like?

Fruity and a little sweet, with a smoky edge after drying or packing in oil. The heat is direct and stays on the tongue rather than a short flash.

### How do I grow Calabrian Chili?

Calabrian Chili: about 90 days to maturity, Mediterranean climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

### What can I substitute for Calabrian Chili?

cayenne pepper, serrano (for milder), fresh red chili flakes, Fresno pepper, Cayenne, Fresno, Serrano

Page: https://web.thecapsi.app/pepper/calabrian-chili
Catalog: https://web.thecapsi.app/data