Datil
Also known as Datil Pepper · Datil Chile · St. Augustine Pepper
The Datil pepper is a very hot, heirloom chili famous in Northeast Florida for its sweet, fruity, and intensely aromatic flavor. It is the signature pepper behind Datil pepper sauce and a beloved local treasure in St. Augustine.
Growing
~120 days to maturity
Fruit size
3–9 cm
Flavor & Use
Sweet and intensely fruity with bright citrus and floral notes. The heat is fierce but the complex sweetness makes it one of the most flavorful hot peppers.
Culinary
About
Datil peppers are small (1–2.5 inches), wrinkled, lantern-shaped pods with thin but juicy walls. They ripen from green to a brilliant golden-orange. The plant is highly productive and the heat is very high (100,000–300,000+ SHU).
Backstory
The Datil pepper has been grown in St. Augustine, Florida since the mid-1800s by the Minorcan community. It is believed to have Caribbean roots but has been perfected locally over generations. It is now a protected heirloom and the star of the annual Datil Pepper Festival.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
We don't have a documented family for this pepper yet.