# Serrano

Also known as Serrano Pepper, Serrano Chile, Chile Serrano.
Species: Capsicum annuum.

Serrano is a Capsicum annuum cultivar from Puebla and Hidalgo, Mexico. Capsi’s sourced range is 17,109 SHU (Lab-verified; typical 17,109). Flavor is bright, grassy, crisp, peppery, clean heat. Used for pico de gallo, salsas, guacamole, moles, soups. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.

## Heat sources

- 17,109 SHU · Lab-verified
  P. Pandey, J. Huo, Q. Zhang (2026) Frontiers in Plant Science · HPLC
  DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2026.1749488
  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2026.1749488

- 3,500 SHU · Official breeder
  Danise Coon, Stephanie Walker, Dennis Lozada, Ivette Guzman, and Paul W. Bosland NMSU Circular 706 · HPLC
  https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_circulars/CR706/index.html

- 31,500 SHU · Official breeder
  Danise Coon, Stephanie Walker, Dennis Lozada, Ivette Guzman, and Paul W. Bosland NMSU Circular 706 · HPLC
  https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_circulars/CR706/index.html

- 10,000–23,000 SHU · Unverified
  PepperScale
  https://pepperscale.com/serrano-peppers/

## Heritage

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

## Page sources

- [https://pepperscale.com/serrano-pepper/](https://pepperscale.com/serrano-pepper/)
- [https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-types/medium-hot-chili-peppers/serrano-peppers/](https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-types/medium-hot-chili-peppers/serrano-peppers/)
- [Botanical, origin, nutrition and cultivation details](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serrano_pepper)
- [https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Serrano_Peppers_142.php](https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Serrano_Peppers_142.php)
- [USDA nutrition facts for raw Serrano peppers](https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169395/nutrients)
- [Cultivation and growing guide](https://www.thespruce.com/growing-serrano-pepper-plants-5082978)

## FAQ
### How hot is Serrano?

Capsi’s sourced range is 17,109 SHU (Lab-verified; typical 17,109). 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 Serrano taste like?

Bright, grassy, and crisp with a clean, sharp heat that is more intense than a jalapeño. The thinner walls give it a lighter, fresher bite that shines in raw preparations.

### How do I grow Serrano?

Serrano: about 80 days to maturity, subtropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

### What can I substitute for Serrano?

jalapeño (milder), Fresno

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