How hot is NuMex Heritage?

Capsi’s sourced range is 1,559 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

How do I grow NuMex Heritage?

NuMex Heritage: about 85 days to maturity, arid climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

What can I substitute for NuMex Heritage?

New Mexico 6-4, Anaheim, NuMex Joe E. Parker

NuMex Heritage

NuMex Heritage is an open-pollinated New Mexican pod-type chile from New Mexico State University, selected out of Heritage 6-4 for the green chile trade. It keeps the parent's pod shape and mild heat, with thicker performance on yield and a stronger traditional flavor.

About 1/16 the typical heat of a Capsi Jalapeño (25,086 SHU).

Growing

~85 days to maturity

Fruit size

15–20 cm

Flavor & Use

Selected to keep the Heritage 6-4 green chile flavor and push it harder. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of green mature pods from the release line found 306 volatile compounds, against 48 in the comparison cultivar AZ-20.

Classic New Mexican green chile: freshearthyslightly sweet with mild heat and rich aroma

Culinary

Roasted and peeled green for chile rellenos, green chile stew, enchiladas, salsas, and saucesThick flesh holds up to fire-roastingLeft to ripen red for drying into chile powder or ristrasEasy calyx removal for processing

About

NuMex Heritage is a selection out of Heritage 6-4, not a rename of it. Pods stay in the same New Mexican shape, about 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) long, with smooth thick flesh around 3.7 mm and a mild heat close to the parent line. Release trials showed up to 32% higher green yield than the seed-bank parent. Plants have a single strong main stem and uniform branching, which shades fruit against sunscald. The calyx comes off by hand. Pick green for roasting. Ripe fruit colors red.

Backstory

In 1998, a seed sample of Heritage 6-4 was drawn from the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation, where that seed had been in cryogenic storage since 1962. At Leyendecker, with the New Mexico Chile Commission, NMSU selected inside that sample for traditional flavor, yield, and a calyx that comes off by hand. Breeding line 04C377 was the selection they kept. The HortScience note on that line is 2012. NMSU Circular 706 lists 2008 and dates the seed draw to 2002.

Appearance

ShapeElongated

ColorGreen · Red

Size15–20 cm

WallThick

SkinSmooth

Growing

SunFull

WaterModerate

ClimateArid

Days to maturity85 days

Plant height60–90 cm

Soil pH6–7

Germination14–28 days

Spacing60 cm

HardinessZones 9-11

Heritage

Explore

NuMex Heritage is a selection of New Mexico 6-4.

Paul W. Bosland, New Mexico State University Chile Pepper Breeding and Genetics Program · 2012

Parent

New Mexico 6-4

Mild · 2K SHU

United States

Sources

FAQ

How hot is NuMex Heritage?: Capsi’s sourced range is 1,559 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 NuMex Heritage taste like?: Selected to keep the Heritage 6-4 green chile flavor and push it harder. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of green mature pods from the release line found 306 volatile compounds, against 48 in the comparison cultivar AZ-20.
How do I grow NuMex Heritage?: NuMex Heritage: about 85 days to maturity, arid climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.
What can I substitute for NuMex Heritage?: New Mexico 6-4, Anaheim, NuMex Joe E. Parker