# Rocoto

Also known as Apple Chile, Caballo Pepper, Chile Manzano, Chile Rocoto, Locoto, Locoto Pepper, Manzano, Manzano (related), Manzano Pepper, Rocote, Rocoto (related), Rocoto Pepper, Tree Pepper, Rocoto Manzano, Rocoto manzano.
Species: Capsicum pubescens.

Rocoto is a Capsicum pubescens landrace from Andes, Peru. Capsi’s sourced range is 6,814–83,961 SHU (Lab-verified; typical 32,989). Flavor is fruity, citrusy, floral, slightly sweet, crisp. Used for ceviche, salsas, stews, hot sauces, pickled. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.

## Heat sources

- 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

- 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

- 175,000 SHU · Official breeder
  Chile Pepper Institute
  https://cpi.nmsu.edu/chile-info/heat.html

- 12,000–30,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Orange Manzano Rocoto Pepper Seeds
  https://www.tyler-farms.com/orange-manzano-rocoto-pepper-seeds/

- 50,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Rocoto Manzano Amarillo Pepper Seeds
  https://www.reimerseeds.com/rocoto-manzano-amarillo-pepper-seeds

- 30,000–250,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Yellow Rocoto
  https://thehippyseedcompany.com/product/yellow-rocoto/

- 30,000–50,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Rocoto Large Red Pepper Seeds
  https://www.pepperpulse.com/product/rocoto-large-red-pepper-seeds/

- 30,000–100,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Rocoto Red Chilli Pepper Seed
  https://victoriananursery.co.uk/Chilli-Pepper-Seed-Rocoto-Red/

## Heritage

Landrace

Rocoto is a traditional landrace.

Rocoto is the Andean cultigen Capsicum pubescens, kept as a landrace under the names rocoto, locoto, and manzano. Genomic work places the center of diversity in the central Andes, with no named parents and no modern cross.

## Page sources

- [HPLC pungency of 78 Peruvian rocoto accessions, median 32,989 SHU](https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/15/2/288)
- [HPLC capsaicinoids of 32 native Peruvian C. pubescens accessions](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00217-015-2506-y)
- [Phylogeny of locoto as an Andean cultigen, no named parents](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1353991/full)
- [Review of domestication and genetic resources of Capsicum pubescens](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10722-026-02874-w)
- [Kew Plants of the World Online, native range Peru to Bolivia](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:814839-1)
- [Chile Pepper Institute tested-heat list, Rocoto 175,000 SHU](https://cpi.nmsu.edu/chile-info/heat.html)

## FAQ
### How hot is Rocoto?

Capsi’s sourced range is 6,814–83,961 SHU (Lab-verified; typical 32,989). 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 Rocoto taste like?

Fruity and citrusy, with floral notes and a crisp, juicy texture. Heat builds steadily and leaves a lingering warmth.

### How do I grow Rocoto?

Rocoto: about 120 days to maturity, cool highland / subtropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 8-11.

### What can I substitute for Rocoto?

manzano, habanero (different flavor), other pubescens varieties, Ají Amarillo, Orange Habanero

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