# Seven Star Chili

Also known as Zhi Tian Jiao, Man Tian Xing, Xindian Qixing Jiao, Sichuan 7 Stars, Stars-in-the-Sky.
Species: Capsicum annuum.

Seven Star Chili is a Capsicum annuum cultivar from Sichuan, China. Capsi’s sourced range is 59,348 SHU (Lab-verified). Flavor is Aromatic and spicy with citrus notes, clean heat, and occasional sweet aftertaste in regional selections.. Used for Sichuan and Hunan hot pot, chili oils and chili crisp, stir-fries, Kung Pao chicken, mapo tofu. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.
About 2.4 times a Capsi Jalapeño (25,086 SHU typical).

## Heat sources

- 59,348 SHU · Lab-verified
  Yiwen Zhu, Xiang Li, Shui Jiang, Yin Zhang, Lihua Zhang, Yuan Liu (2023) Food Chemistry · HPLC
  DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135488
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135488

- 5,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Sichuan 7 Stars Chili Seeds
  https://www.chili-shop24.com/wholesale/growing-chillies/chili-seeds/spice-level-4-6/4566/sichuan-7-stars-chili-seeds

- 68,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Natural Dried Chilli - Wildfire 满天星干辣椒
  https://kingwhoo.com/products/100-natural-dried-chilli-90g-wildfire

- 100,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Sichuan Dried Chili Pepper Star-in-the-Sky Chili Peppers - Man Tian Xing 满天星
  https://www.spicyelement.com/collections/best-seller/products/spicy-element-sichuan-dried-chili-pepper-man-tian-xing-3-53-oz-for-sichuan-dishes-and-hot-pot100g

## Heritage

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

## Page sources

- [Specialist entry on Seven Star Chili as the hottest Southern Chinese heaven-pointing variety used in contests, 60,000 SHU](https://www.clovegarden.com/ingred/cp_chinaz.html)
- [Peer-reviewed HPLC analysis giving Mantianxing (related Seven-Star type) powder approximately 59,348 SHU](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814623001048)
- [Taxonomy and morphology of Facing Heaven / Zhi Tian Jiao (Capsicum annuum conoides group), the broader type to which Seven Star belongs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facing_heaven_pepper)
- [Commercial seed listing for Sichuan 7 Stars Chili with species, plant height, fruit size, germination and maturity data](https://www.chili-shop24.com/growing-chillies/chili-seeds/spice-level-4-6/20146/organic-sichuan-7-stars-chili-seeds)
- [Overview of Seven-Star Chili / Man Tian Xing morphology, 30,000–50,000 SHU range, growing regions and uses](https://www.ecer.com/topic/uu8bq3-sevenstar-chili-a-guide-to-the-unique-pepper-variety.html)
- [Commercial listing for Man Tian Xing / Star-in-the-Sky chili used in Sichuan dishes, noting high heat around 100,000 SHU](https://www.spicyelement.com/collections/best-seller/products/spicy-element-sichuan-dried-chili-pepper-man-tian-xing-3-53-oz-for-sichuan-dishes-and-hot-pot100g)

## FAQ
### How hot is Seven Star Chili?

Capsi’s sourced range is 59,348 SHU (Lab-verified). 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 Seven Star Chili taste like?

Aromatic with citrus notes, clean heat, and a distinctive sweet aftertaste in the Xindian landrace.

### How do I grow Seven Star Chili?

Seven Star Chili: about 85 days to maturity, subtropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

### What can I substitute for Seven Star Chili?

Capsi does not have that recorded yet.

Page: https://web.thecapsi.app/pepper/seven-star-chili
Catalog: https://web.thecapsi.app/data