Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden
Aji Colorado Orange Chilli
- Regular price
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£2.99 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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£2.99
The chilli pepper with a playful puzzle in its name! The Aji Colorado, whose name translates from Spanish to "red pepper," is a vibrant orange gem that hails from the Andean regions of Peru and Bolivia. It's a treasured landrace variety from the Capsicum baccatum species, cultivated and perfected over thousands of years by generations of Incan and pre-Incan farmers. In fact, this pepper was so highly valued in ancient times that it was sometimes given as a form of tribute or taxation to leaders, making it a true piece of living agricultural history
The Aji Colorado plant is a prolific and impressive grower, often reaching heights of four to five feet and producing a bounty of its beautiful pods. Its leaves are a soft green, and it produces the signature flower of its species: a lovely white, bell-shaped blossom with distinctive yellow-green spots on its petals. The pods themselves are elegant and slender, growing up to 12 cm long and tapering to a point. They hang from the branches like glowing orange ornaments, ripening from green to their final brilliant hue. With thin, crisp walls and slightly wrinkled skin, they are perfectly suited for drying, a trait likely selected by farmers centuries ago for easy preservation.
While its heat is a pleasant medium kick, typically ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 Scoville Heat Units, the real star of the show is its flavour. The Aji Colorado bursts with a wonderfully fruity, sweet, and tangy citrus taste, with a fragrant aroma to match. This makes it incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Traditionally, it's a cornerstone of South American cuisine, used in dishes like ceviche and escabeche, or ground with vinegar to create a foundational flavour paste known as Ají Molido. For a modern twist, its crisp texture and bright flavour are perfect for fresh salsas, grilling, or drying into a vibrant and flavourful powder to sprinkle on almost anything.
| Quantity of Seeds | 10 seeds per packet |
| Origin | Peru & Bolivia |
| Genus | Capsicum baccatum |
| Scoville Rating/Heat Level | the Aji Colorado Orange certainly brings a pleasant kick. Its heat level is consistently measured in the range of 20,000 to 40,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), though some estimates place it within a broader spectrum of 10,000 to 50,000 SHU. |
| Plant Size | Typically 80–150 cm (2.5–5 feet) tall, depending on conditions. Upright, bushy, and vigorous with good branching. Medium to large, soft green leaves. Distinctive baccatum flowers — white with striking yellow-green spots on the petals. |
| Pod Size | Elongated, conical, often tapering to a point, 7–12 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm wide. Ripens from green to a brilliant, glowing orange. Semi-smooth with a characteristic slight wrinkle |
| Flavour | Exceptionally fruity, slightly sweet, with tangy citrus notes and a mild earthiness. The thin walls make them great for fresh eating, drying, or making sauces. Perfect for fresh salsas, ceviche, sauces, pickling, or drying for a mild-to-medium powder. Also excellent in stir-fries, grilled dishes, or stuffed. |
| Growing Conditions |
Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost date. Use a well-draining seed-starting mix. Sow seeds about 0.5 cm (¼ inch) deep. Keep soil temperature around 24–30°C. Provide bottom heat with a heat mat for best results. Maintain high humidity using a plastic cover or humidity dome. Generally 10–20 days; baccatum species often germinate faster than superhot types. Once seedlings develop 2–4 true leaves, transplant them into individual pots. Harden off outdoors over 7–10 days before planting in the ground. Full sun (minimum 6–8 hours/day). Keep soil evenly moist but avoid waterlogging; deep watering encourages a strong root system. Use a balanced fertilizer early on; switch to a fertiliser with more potassium (K) once flowering begins. Staking or caging is often recommended, as baccatum plants can become tall and heavy with fruit. |
All plants are grown on our farm in Norfolk, UK and are grown in an open pollinated area.
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