Ho Chi Minh
An open-pollinated cayenne-type pepper that produces long slender pods ripening to yellow or orange-yellow. Seeds from Vietnam reached Minnesota farmer Steven Schwen in the 1980s; he named the line and it later entered commercial circulation through Fedco.
Growing
~70 days to maturity
Fruit size
10–15 cm
Flavor
Hot with a bright, fruity note.
About
Plants grow to about three feet and set abundant slender finger-like pods four to six inches long. Fruit starts green and matures through bright yellow to orange-yellow, occasionally finishing red. Flavor is hot with a bright, fruity note that works well fresh in sauces and stir-fries or dried and ground into powder or flakes. The variety is open-pollinated and productive under full sun in a long temperate season.
Backstory
Vietnamese refugees visiting Minnesota in the 1980s shared seeds of this cayenne-type pepper with organic farmer Steven Schwen. He named it in honor of the Vietnamese revolutionary leader and later passed seed to Fedco Seeds, which introduced the variety commercially in 2007. It has been maintained as an open-pollinated line since.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
ExploreNothing reputable documents a pedigree for this pepper.
Sources
FAQ
- How hot is Ho Chi Minh?
- Capsi’s sourced range is 5,000–30,000 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 Ho Chi Minh taste like?
- Hot with a bright, fruity note.
- How do I grow Ho Chi Minh?
- Ho Chi Minh: about 70 days to maturity, temperate climate, full sun, hardiness zones 4-11.
- What can I substitute for Ho Chi Minh?
- Capsi does not have that recorded yet.