Aji Peri Peri

Aji Peri Peri is a small African pepper in the Capsicum baccatum species. The pods are usually around 1 inch long and pack quite a bit of heat, generally around 50,000 SHU. That puts them well above a typical jalapeno, but still in a range that is very useful for cooking.

Flavor and Uses

The flavor has a nice mix of sweet, smoky, and hot. Peri Peri peppers are especially good for sauces, including the classic combination of oil, lemon, garlic, and salt used for basting chicken and other meats.

They also work well in salsa or dried and ground into powder. The powder is great in rubs, seasoning blends, or anywhere you want a good amount of heat without moving into superhot territory.

An African Favorite

Peri Peri peppers have a long history in African cooking, especially in Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, and South Africa. They are widely used in bottled hot sauces and marinades throughout the region. The peppers also grow wild in parts of Africa, where birds help spread the seeds from plant to plant.

Growing

Give these plenty of warmth when starting the seeds. A heat mat works well, or any consistently warm location. Once established, treat them much like other pepper plants with plenty of sun, regular watering, and good drainage.

20+ seeds per pack