Buena Mulata Chilli

The Buena Mulata is a rare and beautiful heirloom pepper with a fascinating history. This cayenne-type chilli, a member of the Capsicum annuum species, was preserved for generations before being reintroduced to the world by food historian William Woys Weaver. He discovered the seeds in his grandfather's collection, who had received them in 1944 from the renowned African-American folk artist Horace Pippin. The pepper delivers a medium heat, comparable to a standard cayenne, with a Scoville rating that typically falls between 30,000 and 50,000 SHU.

The plant itself is a stunning ornamental, growing into a tall, productive specimen that can reach heights of 60 to 90 cm. Its most striking feature is the chameleon-like colour transition of its slender, serpentine pods. The fruits, which grow to be 4 to 7 inches long, begin as a vivid violet colour before morphing through a beautiful spectrum of pink, orange, and brown, finally ripening to a deep, brilliant red. This vibrant display of multiple colours on the plant at once makes it a prized addition to any garden or container display.

Unlike many ornamental peppers that are bred for looks over taste, the Buena Mulata is celebrated for its versatile and evolving flavour profile. The taste changes with the colour of the pods; the young purple peppers have a milder, grassy flavour, while the fully mature red fruits develop a much sweeter, fruitier taste with a smoky finish. This complexity makes it a fantastic culinary pepper that can be used at any stage of ripeness. It is excellent when used fresh in salsas and salads, can be pickled, or dried and crushed to create a flavourful chilli powder for use in soups, stews, and sauces.

 All plants are grown on our farm in Norfolk, UK and are grown in an open pollinated area.