Siling Mahaba
Also known as siling haba · siling pangsigang · espada · finger chili · long pepper · green chili
Siling Mahaba (also known as siling haba or siling pangsigang) is a long green chili pepper of the species Capsicum annuum widely cultivated in the Philippines. It is valued in Filipino cuisine for its moderate heat (around 50,000 SHU) and aromatic qualities, especially in sour soups like sinigang and everyday dishes such as sisig and dynamite.
Growing
~90 days to maturity
Fruit size
10–18 cm
Flavor & Use
Mild to medium spicy with fresh, vegetal, and slightly aromatic qualities; contributes fragrance and subtle heat rather than overwhelming pungency in many traditional recipes.
Culinary
About
Siling Mahaba (also called siling haba, siling pangsigang, espada, or finger chili) is a Capsicum annuum cultivar producing slender fruits typically 10-18 cm long. Fruits are usually harvested bright light green to yellowish green (sometimes ripening red), with thin walls, smooth skin, and a tapering finger-like shape often showing slight swelling below the cap. It averages 50,000 SHU (range ~25,000-50,000), offering moderate heat that is milder than siling labuyo. A staple in Filipino cuisine, it adds aroma and balanced spice to dishes rather than extreme pungency. Plants are bushy annuals reaching 70-100 cm tall in tropical conditions.
Backstory
A traditional Capsicum annuum cultivar that has become one of the two signature chilies of the Philippines alongside the hotter siling labuyo (Capsicum frutescens). It is widely cultivated in home gardens and farms across the archipelago and sold year-round in local markets for everyday cooking.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
ExploreWe don't have a documented family for this pepper yet.
Sources
FAQ
- How hot is Siling Mahaba?
- Capsi’s sourced range is 25,000–50,000 SHU (Vendor Claim). 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 Siling Mahaba taste like?
- Mild to medium spicy with fresh, vegetal, and slightly aromatic qualities; contributes fragrance and subtle heat rather than overwhelming pungency in many traditional recipes.
- How do I grow Siling Mahaba?
- Siling Mahaba: about 90 days to maturity, tropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.
- What can I substitute for Siling Mahaba?
- Capsi does not have that recorded yet.