NuMex Lemon Spice Jalapeño

Features bright citrus and lemon undertones with fruity sweetness, balanced mild-to-medium heat, and a clean flavor often compared to spicy candy or bright jalapeño with a twist.

The NuMex Lemon Spice Jalapeño is an open-pollinated jalapeño-type chile (Capsicum annuum) released in 2015 from the New Mexico State University Chile Pepper Breeding Program. It was developed through hybridization of 'Permagreen' bell pepper and 'Early Jalapeño' beginning in 1995, using pedigree breeding with three backcrosses and extensive single-plant selection for desirable jalapeño fruit traits and the unique bright yellow mature color. Fruits are green when immature and ripen to a vivid yellow (Munsell 5Y 7/10), lacking the corky reticulation common in many jalapeños for smoother skin. Average fruit length is 6.1 cm with medium wall thickness (2.3-2.6 mm) and compact plant height of 36-45 cm. Heat levels measured approximately 25,000 SHU on a dry weight basis in replicated trials, comparable to Early Jalapeño in the same study, though commercial listings often cite 2,500-8,000 SHU range reflecting fresh weight or consumer perception. The variety is noted for its citrusy flavor undertones, productivity, and value in providing novel color for fresh market sales, pickling, and culinary applications where visual appeal matters.

Developed starting in 1995 at the New Mexico State University Chile Pepper Breeding Program through crosses of 'Permagreen' bell pepper and 'Early Jalapeño', followed by multiple generations of pedigree selection and backcrossing to stabilize jalapeño pod type and the novel bright yellow mature fruit color. Released in 2015 as part of the NuMex Spice series (alongside Orange Spice and Pumpkin Spice) to offer unique mature colors for market differentiation and visual appeal in fresh produce.