# Chocolate Rocoto

Also known as Giant Chocolate Rocoto, Rocoto Chocolate, Chocolate Rocoto Pepper, Brown Rocoto.
Species: Capsicum pubescens.

Chocolate Rocoto is a Capsicum pubescens cultivar from Andes Mountains, Peru and Bolivia. Capsi’s sourced range is 8,400–60,000 SHU (Lab-verified; typical 34,200). Flavor is sweet, fruity, grassy, herbal. Used for stuffing and rocoto relleno, roasting, salsas and hot sauces, ceviche, stews and Peruvian dishes. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.

## Heat sources

- 8,400–60,000 SHU · Lab-verified
  Meckelmann S.W., Jansen C., Riegel D.W., van Zonneveld M., Ríos L., Peña K., Mueller-Seitz E., Petz M. (2015) European Food Research and Technology · HPLC
  DOI: 10.1007/s00217-015-2506-y
  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-015-2506-y

- 30,000–100,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Giant Chocolate Rocoto Chilli Seeds
  https://www.reddragonseeds.co.uk/shop/giant-chocolate-rocoto-chilli-seeds/

- 30,000–50,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Rocoto Chocolate X Pepper Seeds
  http://pepperseeds.ca/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=2753

- 30,000–100,000 SHU · Unverified
  Rocoto Pepper Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses
  https://pepperscale.com/rocoto-pepper/

## Heritage

Nothing reputable documents a pedigree for this pepper.

## Page sources

- [Red Dragon Seeds: Giant Chocolate Rocoto product description](https://www.reddragonseeds.co.uk/shop/giant-chocolate-rocoto-chilli-seeds/)
- [PepperScale: Rocoto Pepper Guide](https://pepperscale.com/rocoto-pepper/)
- [Chili Pepper Madness: Rocoto Peppers](https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-types/medium-hot-chili-peppers/rocoto-chili-peppers/)
- [Specialty Produce: Rocoto Chile Peppers Information](https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Rocoto_Chile_Peppers_16993.php)
- [PepperGeek: Rocoto Peppers guide (varieties, growing, traits)](https://peppergeek.com/rocoto-peppers/)
- [Wikipedia: Capsicum pubescens botanical overview, origin, cultivation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsicum_pubescens)

## FAQ
### How hot is Chocolate Rocoto?

Capsi’s sourced range is 8,400–60,000 SHU (Lab-verified; typical 34,200). 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 Chocolate Rocoto taste like?

Balances sweet and fruity notes with a grassy, cucumber-like freshness and a lingering heat, reminiscent of a juicy tomato crossed with a bell pepper.

### How do I grow Chocolate Rocoto?

Chocolate Rocoto: about 120 days to maturity, cooler climates, more tolerant of lower temperatures than other Capsicum species climate, full to partial sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

### What can I substitute for Chocolate Rocoto?

Poblano, Cubanelle, Habanero

Page: https://web.thecapsi.app/pepper/chocolate-rocoto
Catalog: https://web.thecapsi.app/data