Hot Portugal
An early-maturing heirloom cayenne-type Capsicum annuum producing long glossy red pods with sweet-fruity flavor and medium heat (5,000–30,000 SHU). Highly productive and well-suited to shorter growing seasons.
Growing
~65 days to maturity
Fruit size
12–20 cm
Flavor & Use
Ripe fruits offer a rich, sweet flavor with fruity notes of strawberry, apple, or citrus balanced by clean medium heat that lingers without bitterness; unripe green fruits are more savory and green-peppery.
Culinary
About
Hot Portugal is a classic open-pollinated heirloom cayenne-type Capsicum annuum that produces elongated, tapered pods 12–20 cm long. Fruits ripen from green to vivid glossy red, often with a classic wrinkled hip at the stem end; a small percentage may pass through yellow. Thin-to-medium walls, high yields, and early maturity (around 65 days from transplant) make it reliable for shorter seasons. The flavor is sweet and fruity when ripe, balanced by variable medium heat; plants are vigorous and upright, frequently compared to the sweet Jimmy Nardello for identical appearance.
Backstory
Associated with Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula, where Capsicum diversified after introduction from the Americas by Iberian explorers, this variety was first offered commercially in the United States in 1935 by Joseph Harris & Co. of Coldwater, New York, who described it as ‘the best hot pepper we know.’ It has been preserved by Seed Savers Exchange and remains a popular open-pollinated heirloom for home gardens, especially those with shorter seasons.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
We don't have a documented family for this pepper yet.