# Trinidad Congo Pepper

Also known as Congo Trinidad, Congo Pepper, Trinidad Red Congo, Congo Red Trinidad, Red Congo.
Species: Capsicum chinense.

Trinidad Congo Pepper is a Capsicum chinense landrace from Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago. Capsi’s sourced range is 100,000–400,000 SHU (Vendor Claim). Flavor is fruity, smoky. Used for Trinidad pepper sauce, bake-and-shark, fried-chicken marinade, salsa, stew. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.
About 7.8 times a Capsi Jalapeño (31,902 SHU typical).

## Heat sources

- 150,000–300,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Trade Winds Fruit
  https://tradewindsfruit.com/content/congo-trinidad-pepper.html

- 300,000–400,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Garden Hoard / Renegade Acres
  https://www.gardenhoard.com/hot-pepper-trinidad-red-congo-habanero-seeds-certified-organic.html

- 100,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Atlantic Pepper Seeds
  http://pepperseeds.ca/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=238

## Heritage

Landrace

Trinidad Congo Pepper is a traditional landrace.

CARDI and a 2009 Trinidad trial both treat Congo Pepper as a local chinense landrace with no named parents. Packets labeled Trinidad Congo are the large red market form, not Congo Black or a 7 Pot.

## Page sources

- [Catalog page for Congo Trinidad Pepper: size, ripe color, heat range, origin, days to maturity](https://tradewindsfruit.com/content/congo-trinidad-pepper.html)
- [CARDI manual listing Congo Pepper as a Trinidad landrace used for fresh fruit](https://www.cardi.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Hot-Pepper-Production-Manual-for-Trinidad-and-Tobago-2011-reprint.pdf)
- [Dave DeWitt market notes on Congo peppers in Trinidad: size, walls, local name, sauce use](https://www.fieryfoodscentral.com/2008/12/06/down-de-islands-trinidad-and-tobago-a-travel-retrospective-1992/)
- [ChilePlants Congo Trinidad plant listing: ripening colors, pod size, wall thickness, plant height, days](https://www.chileplants.com/search.aspx?ProductCode=CHICOT)
- [Jim Duffy / Refining Fire listing for Congo Red Trinidad grown in Trinidad markets](https://www.superhotchiles.com/product/congo-red-trinidad-habanero/)
- [CARDI field evaluation of Red Congo: campanulate red fruit, 19.7 g, 4.8 by 4.0 cm, very hot](https://www.cardi.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2012/11/Preliminary-evaluation-of-West-Indian-Hot-Pepper.pdf)
- [Growing numbers for Trinidad Red Congo Habanero: spacing, pH, days, plant height](https://www.gardenhoard.com/hot-pepper-trinidad-red-congo-habanero-seeds-certified-organic.html)
- [USDA FDC 170106 generic raw red hot chili nutrition used for calories, vitamins, macros](https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/170106/nutrients)

## FAQ
### How hot is Trinidad Congo Pepper?

Capsi’s sourced range is 100,000–400,000 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 Trinidad Congo Pepper taste like?

Fruity and apricot-like when first cut, with a faint smoky finish. Heat builds the way a hot habanero does.

### How do I grow Trinidad Congo Pepper?

Trinidad Congo Pepper: about 90 days to maturity, tropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

### What can I substitute for Trinidad Congo Pepper?

Orange Habanero, Scotch Bonnet, Caribbean Red Habanero

Page: https://web.thecapsi.app/pepper/trinidad-congo-pepper
Catalog: https://web.thecapsi.app/data