Rocoto Ecuador

10 Rocoto Ecuador seeds

Capsicum pubescens

SHU: 50 000 - 100 000

Stability: Yes, relatively

The Rocoto Ecuador chili pepper is a variety of the Capsicum pubescens species, a distinctive chili pepper native to the Ecuadorian Andes and Peru. It is recognizable by its black seeds, purple flowers, and slightly hairy foliage covered in fine down. Its round or elongated apple-shaped fruits change from green to bright red or orange, depending on possible crossbreeding with orange-pigmented chili peppers.

It offers a fresh, fruity flavor typical of rocoto peppers. Adapted to cooler climates than most other chili pepper families, it grows vigorously at higher altitudes and can live for several years if properly overwintered. Note that this pepper does not tolerate direct sunlight, meaning it should be grown in a shadier location. Therefore, it is best grown in a pot and brought indoors to protect it from intense heat during heat waves. In cooking, its thick, juicy flesh is particularly well-suited to cheese and basil stuffings, salsas, and traditional Peruvian dishes, where it provides a robust and aromatic spiciness similar to a tomato.