Dalle Khursani is the round chilli of the eastern Himalayas, the one that defines the cooking of Sikkim, eastern Nepal, Bhutan and the Darjeeling hills. Dalle means round in Nepali, and the pods are small glossy cherries 1.5 to 2.5cm across, with thick fleshy walls soft enough to squeeze. It was given Geographical Indication status in 2020 to protect its Sikkim origin, extended to Darjeeling and Kalimpong the following year.

The odd thing about it is botanical. At 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville units the heat is habanero level, but this is a Capsicum annuum, the same species as jalapeños and bell peppers. Almost everything this hot is a chinense. You get superhot territory with the faster germination and shorter cycle of the easier species. Locals call it Jyaanamara Khursani, murderer chilli, affectionately.