Pimento

Also known as Pimiento · Pimiento Pepper

The Pimento pepper (also known as Pimiento or Cherry pepper) is a classic sweet, mild variety of *Capsicum annuum* famous for its heart-shaped red pods. It is the traditional stuffing for Spanish green olives and the signature ingredient in Southern pimento cheese.

Flavor & Use

Sweet and succulent with a rich, aromatic flavor that is more pronounced than a standard red bell pepper. The thick flesh is juicy and slightly fruity, with no significant heat.

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Culinary

stuffed olivespimento cheesepaprika (dried)saladsgarnishessandwichescanning/picklingpimento loafcheese spreads

About

Pimento peppers are small-to-medium, heart-shaped fruits (3–4 inches / 7–10 cm long and 2–3 inches / 5–8 cm wide) with thick, juicy, succulent flesh and a bright red color when fully ripe. They start green and ripen to vibrant red. The skin is smooth and the walls are thicker than many hot peppers, giving them a meaty texture. Plants are compact and productive.

Backstory

Pimento peppers (pimiento in Spanish) trace their roots to the Capsicum annuum varieties brought from the Americas to Europe during the Columbian Exchange. Spanish farmers selected and refined the heart-shaped, sweet type, which became a staple in Spanish cuisine. In the late 19th/early 20th century, canned Spanish pimentos were imported to the United States and quickly became popular for stuffing olives and making pimento cheese — a Southern U.S. classic. Georgia emerged as a major U.S. growing region in the 1910s–1950s, with thousands of acres cultivated and dozens of processing plants. Although production later declined due to labor costs, the pimento remains an iconic mild sweet pepper in both Spanish and American Southern food traditions.

Appearance

ShapeHeart-shaped, conical to rounded
SkinSmooth, thin but sturdy

Growing

SunFull sun (6-8+ hours)
Days to maturity75-85 days

Heritage

Explore

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

Sources

FAQ

How hot is Pimento?
Capsi’s sourced range is 0–500 SHU (Official breeder). 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 Pimento taste like?
Sweet and succulent with a rich, aromatic flavor that is more pronounced than a standard red bell pepper. The thick flesh is juicy and slightly fruity, with no significant heat.
How do I grow Pimento?
Pimento: about 75-85 days to maturity, full sun (6-8+ hours) sun.
What can I substitute for Pimento?
red bell pepper