# Cayenne

Also known as Cayenne chili, Cayenne pepper, Red Cayenne, Long Slim Pepper.
Species: Capsicum annuum.

Cayenne is a Capsicum annuum landrace from French Guiana, France. Capsi’s sourced range is 8,760–91,907 SHU (Lab-verified). Flavor is fiery, sharp, earthy, slightly fruity, pungent. Used for cayenne powder, dried flakes, hot sauces, seasoning blends, soups. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.
About 2 times a Capsi Jalapeño (25,086 SHU typical).

## Heat sources

- 8,760–45,000 SHU · Lab-verified
  Stephanie Krauß, Laura Becker, Walter Vetter (2021) Phytochemical Analysis 32:530-543
  DOI: 10.1002/pca.3001
  https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.3001

- 91,907 SHU · Lab-verified
  Malak Alghamdi, Thirumurugan Rathinasabapathy, Slavko Komarnytsky (2025) Int. J. Mol. Sci. · HPLC
  DOI: 10.3390/ijms26104916
  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26104916

- 30,000–50,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Hot Pepper Seeds, Cayenne Long Thin
  https://www.rareseeds.com/pepper-hot-cayenne-long-thin

- 30,000–50,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Cayenne Long Slim Pepper Seeds
  https://www.holmesseed.com/cayenne-long-slim/

- 30,000–50,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  (2026) Burpee Seeds & Plants
  https://www.burpee.com/blogs/faqs/do-you-have-a-scoville-chart-for-hot-peppers-60000739266

- 10,000–20,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  (2026) Burpee Seeds & Plants
  https://www.burpee.com/blogs/faqs/do-you-have-a-scoville-chart-for-hot-peppers-60000739266

- 60,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Cayenne Pepper 60,000 Scoville Heat Units
  https://www.myspicesage.com/products/cayenne-pepper-60-000-scoville-heat-units

## Heritage

Landrace

Cayenne is a traditional landrace.

Catalogs sell the long red cayenne as an old heirloom with no named parents. Reference works tie the type to Cayenne in French Guiana, while the English name tracks a Tupi word later linked to that city.

## Page sources

- [HPLC-UV of urban-grown C. annuum Cayenne 93(138), year-2 powder, 91,907 SHU](https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/10/4916)
- [Glasshouse GC-MS of ripe cayenne fruit, four plants, University of Hohenheim](https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pca.3001)
- [Species, fruit color, and the Cayenne, French Guiana origin statement](https://www.britannica.com/plant/cayenne-pepper)
- [Baker Creek heirloom listing, bright red fruit, 70 days, vendor heat](https://www.rareseeds.com/pepper-hot-cayenne-long-thin)
- [Open-pollinated heirloom Long Slim, green to red, 5-6 inch pods](https://www.holmesseed.com/cayenne-long-slim/)
- [Height, days to red, zones 9-11, and full-sun growing notes](https://www.gardenia.net/plant/capsicum-annuum-cayenne-pepper)
- [INRAE accession PM0045, name CAYENNE, traditional cultivar/landrace, no pedigree](https://www.genesys-pgr.org/10.15454/4GGHWA)

## FAQ
### How hot is Cayenne?

Capsi’s sourced range is 8,760–91,907 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 taste like?

Clean, sharp, fiery heat with earthy undertones and a subtle fruity brightness. When dried and ground it becomes a versatile, pungent spice that adds heat without overpowering other flavors.

### How do I grow Cayenne?

Cayenne: about 80 days to maturity, warm subtropical to tropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

### What can I substitute for Cayenne?

crushed red pepper flakes, paprika (for milder heat), Chile de Árbol, Thai Bird's Eye

Page: https://web.thecapsi.app/pepper/cayenne
Catalog: https://web.thecapsi.app/data