Cayenne Thick
Also known as Large Red Thick · Long Red Thick · Cayenne Large Thick · Cayenne Red Large Thick
A thick-walled open-pollinated cayenne (Capsicum annuum), also sold as Large Red Thick and Long Red Thick, with large wrinkled pods that ripen from dark green to deep red.
About 1/2.6 the typical heat of a Capsi Jalapeño (25,086 SHU).
Growing
~75 days to maturity
Fruit size
13–18 cm
Flavor & Use
Bright, clean cayenne flavor with some earthiness and a little sweetness. Less smoky than a chipotle.
Culinary
About
Pods are wider and fleshier than a slim cayenne. Catalog listings put them at about 13 to 18 cm long and 3 to 4 cm at the shoulder, with wrinkled skin, starting dark green and finishing deep red. A southern New Mexico field trial measured fruit about 13.5 cm long and 2 cm wide, with walls a little over 3 mm. Plants run 45 to 90 cm and set fruit in a concentrated flush. The thicker flesh holds up for fresh use, roasting, and pickling, and still dries for powder or flakes. Catalogs call the heat hot.
Backstory
The cayenne type takes its name from the city of Cayenne in French Guiana, and the word is also traced to Old Tupi kyynha. Cayenne Thick, sold as Large Red Thick and Long Red Thick, is an open-pollinated cultivar long grown as a standard cayenne in southern New Mexico, chosen in commerce for meatier pods than the slim cayenne. New Mexico State University used the line as a parent of NuMex Las Cruces and as the source population for NuMex Nematador.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
ExplorePeppers bred from Cayenne Thick
Sources
FAQ
- How hot is Cayenne Thick?
- Capsi’s sourced range is 9,683 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 Cayenne Thick taste like?
- Bright, clean cayenne flavor with some earthiness and a little sweetness. Less smoky than a chipotle.
- How do I grow Cayenne Thick?
- Cayenne Thick: about 75 days to maturity, subtropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.
- What can I substitute for Cayenne Thick?
- Cayenne