# Orange Rocoto

Also known as Orange Manzano, Manzano Orange Rocoto, Orange Rocoto Pepper.
Species: Capsicum pubescens.

Orange Rocoto is a Capsicum pubescens cultivar from Andes Mountains, Peru. Capsi’s sourced range is 6,814–83,961 SHU (Lab-verified; typical 34,509). Flavor is fruity, citrusy, sweet, grassy. Used for salsas, hot sauces, stuffing, rocoto relleno, roasting and frying. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.

## Heat sources

- 8,400–60,000 SHU · Lab-verified
  Meckelmann S.W., Jansen C., Riegel D.W., van Zonneveld M., Ríos L., Peña K., Mueller-Seitz E., Petz M. (2015) European Food Research and Technology · HPLC
  DOI: 10.1007/s00217-015-2506-y
  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-015-2506-y

- 6,814–83,961 SHU · Lab-verified
  Salas-Zeta, E.L., Bernal-Canales, K.L., Delgado-Lazo, A. et al. (2026) Plants · HPLC
  DOI: 10.3390/plants15020288
  https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15020288

- 30,000–50,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  PepperGeek.com (with PepperScale.com, SpecialtyProduce.com references)
  https://peppergeek.com/rocoto-peppers/

- 30,000–50,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Pepper Joe's - Orange Rocoto Pepper Seeds
  https://pepperjoe.com/products/orange-rocoto-pepper-seeds

- 500–12,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  HRSeeds - Rocoto Orange Pepper
  https://www.hrseeds.com/product-page/rocoto-orange-pepper

- 30,000–250,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Raindance Seeds / Chilliseedbank / Odlare (representative high-end claims)
  https://www.raindanceseeds.com/plantsandseeds/orange-roccoto-capsicum-pubescens

## Heritage

We don't have a documented family for this pepper yet.

## Page sources

- [Pepper Geek comprehensive guide to Rocoto peppers (detailed traits, growing, uses)](https://peppergeek.com/rocoto-peppers/)
- [PepperScale Rocoto pepper profile (heat, flavor, origin)](https://pepperscale.com/rocoto-pepper/)
- [Specialty Produce detailed Rocoto chile peppers information (appearance, flavor, culinary)](https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Rocoto_Chile_Peppers_16993.php)
- [Wikipedia Capsicum pubescens entry (botany, history, cultivation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsicum_pubescens)
- [Pepper Joe product page for Orange Rocoto seeds](https://pepperjoe.com/products/orange-rocoto-pepper-seeds)

## FAQ
### How hot is Orange Rocoto?

Capsi’s sourced range is 6,814–83,961 SHU (Lab-verified; typical 34,509). 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 Orange Rocoto taste like?

Sweet and fruity with citrus notes and grassy undertones

### How do I grow Orange Rocoto?

Orange Rocoto: about 120 days to maturity, cool highland climate, full or partial sun, hardiness zones 8-11.

### What can I substitute for Orange Rocoto?

Rocoto, Manzano, Aji Amarillo

Page: https://web.thecapsi.app/pepper/orange-rocoto
Catalog: https://web.thecapsi.app/data