Hinkelhatz

Hinkelhatz

The Hinkelhatz pepper apparently means “chicken heart” in Pennsylvania Dutch. Visually, that makes some sense. Taste wise, not so much. It is a rare heirloom cultivated by our anabaptist neighbors to the east, the Pennsylvania Dutch, since the mid-1880s.

This small, conical pepper measures about 1 to 2 inches in length. they grow on fairly compact plants, typically not growing taller than 2 ft. Expect a prolific and early harvest. Certainly not frost hardy, however, this is a variety that will continue to produce and do well in cooler temperatures. Fruit ripen from green to red.

It packs a significant heat level, hotter than a jalapeno – certainly changes my impression of some of our Amish and Mennonite friends. They DO love some seasoning! The heat is more comparable to a cayenne pepper. Traditionally, the Hinkelhatz has been used for pickling and making pepper vinegar, adding a spicy kick to dishes like sauerkraut. Tschüss!