Nsukka Yellow Pepper
Also known as Ose Nsukka · Nsukka aromatic yellow pepper · Nigerian Yellow Habanero
Nsukka Yellow Pepper, called Ose Nsukka in Igbo, is a small yellow aromatic chili kept by farmers around Nsukka in Enugu State, Nigeria. Cooks prize the floral scent it gives to Igbo soups more than raw fire.
About 4.6 times a Capsi Jalapeño (31,902 SHU typical).
Growing
~140 days to maturity
Fruit size
4.5–6 cm
Flavor & Use
Bright, almost floral aroma with a hot, slightly sweet bite. Dried fruit turns woody and smoky.
Culinary
About
Ripe fruit is bright yellow, about 5 cm long and a little over 2 cm across, oblong-conical with a glossy skin. The taste is hot and a little sweet, with a perfume that atarodo does not have. Fresh pods go into ofe oha, ofe onugbu, ofe Owerri, ofe akwu, ugba, achicha, and okro soup. Dried and ground, the same fruit is sold as Cameroon pepper for pepper soup and marinades. Plants are rainfed in the derived savanna.
Backstory
Farmers in the Nsukka agricultural zone have grown this yellow pepper for generations and still save seed from ripe fruit, a practice called ak'ose. The type is tied to Nsukka soils and weather. Plantings outside the zone often lose aroma, colour, or heat. It also turns up in adjoining parts of Kogi State.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
ExploreNsukka Yellow Pepper is a traditional landrace.
Sources
FAQ
- How hot is Nsukka Yellow Pepper?
- Capsi’s sourced range is 146,823 SHU (Lab-verified). 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 Nsukka Yellow Pepper taste like?
- Bright, almost floral aroma with a hot, slightly sweet bite. Dried fruit turns woody and smoky.
- How do I grow Nsukka Yellow Pepper?
- Nsukka Yellow Pepper: about 140 days to maturity, tropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 10-12.
- What can I substitute for Nsukka Yellow Pepper?
- Scotch Bonnet, Golden Habanero