Zou-Pi
Also known as Shar Pei · Sharpei pepper
Zou-Pi is a Chinese pepper named for its heavily wrinkled skin, which resembles a Shar Pei dog. It is uncommon outside its home region.
About 1/3.3 the typical heat of a Capsi Jalapeño (25,086 SHU).
Growing
~85 days to maturity
Fruit size
5–8 cm
Flavor & Use
Earthy with smoky and fruity notes.
earthysmokyfruity
Culinary
Fresh in stir-friessaladsand salsasdried as flakes or powder.
About
Pods are short, irregularly wrinkled, and thin-walled, ripening from green to bright red. Flavor is earthy with smoky and fruity notes. Plants are productive and bushy, often needing support once loaded with fruit. The heat sits in the medium range.
Backstory
Zou-Pi is a traditional type kept in southern China. Growers outside China treat it as a rare landrace known mainly for its heavily wrinkled pods.
Appearance
ShapeWrinkled elongated
ColorGreen · Red
Size5–8 cm
WallThin
SkinWrinkled
Growing
SunFull
WaterModerate
ClimateSubtropical
Days to maturity85 days
Plant height60–120 cm
Soil pH6–7
Germination7–21 days
Spacing50 cm
HardinessZones 9-11
Heritage
ExplorePeppers bred from Zou-Pi
Sources
FAQ
- How hot is Zou-Pi?
- Capsi’s sourced range is 1,000–10,000 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 Zou-Pi taste like?
- Earthy with smoky and fruity notes.
- How do I grow Zou-Pi?
- Zou-Pi: about 85 days to maturity, subtropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.
- What can I substitute for Zou-Pi?
- Capsi does not have that recorded yet.