# Costeño Pepper

Also known as Chile Costeño Rojo, Costeño Amarillo, Costeño Red, Costeño Rojo, Red Costeño.
Species: Capsicum annuum.

Costeño Pepper is a Capsicum annuum cultivar from Oaxaca and Guerrero, Mexico. Capsi’s sourced range is 2,500–15,000 SHU (Vendor Claim). Flavor is smoky, citrusy, fruity, earthy, sweet. Used for mole sauces, salsas, stews, marinades, pozole. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.
About 1/3.5 the typical heat of a Capsi Jalapeño (25,086 SHU).

## Heat sources

- 2,500–5,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  (2026)
  https://knowthepepper.com/peppers/costeno/

- 2,500 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Reimer Seeds – Costeno Amarillo Pepper Seeds · HPLC
  https://www.reimerseeds.com/costeno-amarillo-pepper-seeds

- 12,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  HRSeeds – Costeno Rojo Pepper
  https://www.hrseeds.com/product-page/costeno-rojo-pepper

- 5,000–15,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Fresco Products – Chile Costeño
  https://frescoproductsny.com/product/chile-costeo/

## Heritage

We don't have a documented family for this pepper yet.

## Page sources

- [Spice Library: Chiles, Costeño](https://spicelibrary.org/spice/chiles-costeno/)
- [Specialty Produce: Dried Costeno Peppers](https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Dried_Costeno_Peppers_15169.php)
- [SciELO: Variation of plant and fruit traits in native Mexican costeño pepper (agromorphological study)](https://www.scielo.br/j/hb/a/HcDCFzq8VmpbnxWjTZjQg4k/)
- [Clovegarden: Chilis of Mexico – Costeño Rojo details](https://www.clovegarden.com/ingred/cp_mexiz.html)
- [CooksInfo: Costeño Amarillo Chile](https://www.cooksinfo.com/costeno-amarillo-chile)

## FAQ
### How hot is Costeño Pepper?

Capsi’s sourced range is 2,500–15,000 SHU (Vendor Claim). 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 Costeño Pepper taste like?

A balance of smoky earthiness with bright citrus acidity and subtle fruity sweetness.

### How do I grow Costeño Pepper?

Costeño Pepper: about 85 days to maturity, subtropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

### What can I substitute for Costeño Pepper?

guajillo, mirasol

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