Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden
Scotch Bonnet Freeport Chilli
- Regular price
-
£2.99 - Regular price
-
- Sale price
-
£2.99
The Scotch Bonnet Freeport is a celebrated local star from the Bahamas, specifically the city of Freeport. It's a landrace variety, meaning it has naturally adapted over generations to its local environment. Think of it as nature's own perfect recipe for a Caribbean chilli, sculpted by the sun, soil, and soul of the islands. It’s a cherished strain of the legendary Scotch Bonnet, famous for its distinctive flavour and potent punch.
But the real party starts when you take a bite! This pepper is famous for its incredible flavour profile – a bold, fruity, and almost apricot-like sweetness with smoky undertones. This isn't just mindless heat; it's a complex and aromatic taste that is the signature of authentic Caribbean cooking. Speaking of heat, the Freeport doesn't mess around! It packs a fiery punch, typically landing between 100,000 and 350,000 on the Scoville Heat Scale. That's a serious, habanero-level heat that builds and lingers, warming you from the inside out.
In the kitchen, it's the undisputed king of Caribbean cuisine. It's the essential ingredient for traditional Jamaican jerk marinades, fiery hot sauces, and flavourful pepper jellies. A single, whole pepper added to a pot of rice and peas or a simmering stew can infuse the entire dish with its unique fruity aroma and warmth.
The Scotch Bonnet Freeport grows on a beautiful and bushy plant belonging to the flavour-packed Capsicum chinense species. It’s a relatively compact plant, usually reaching a height and spread of about 60-90 cm, making it a great candidate for both large pots and garden beds. The plant features large, lush green leaves that create a dense canopy, from which the bright yellow "bonnets" hang like cheerful lanterns.
One of the most charming details about the Scotch Bonnet Freeport plant is its incredible productivity. For a plant of its size, it can produce an astonishing number of peppers, often yielding several dozen pods in a single season. Furthermore, the aroma of a Scotch Bonnet plant in the sun is a unique pleasure in itself – a slightly sweet, fruity scent that hints at the fiery treasure it holds. Growing a Scotch Bonnet Freeport is like cultivating your own little piece of the Bahamas, ready to bring an authentic, sun-soaked island flavour to your table whenever you wish!
| Quantity of Seeds | 10 seeds per packet |
| Origin | Bahamas |
| Genus | Capsicum chinense |
| Scoville Rating/Heat Level | Prepare for a significant and robust heat! The Scotch Bonnet Freeport typically registers between 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), similar to other potent Scotch Bonnets or Habaneros. This places it firmly in the hot to very hot category. The heat is immediate and intense, providing a strong, lingering burn that is deeply satisfying for chilli enthusiasts. It's an excellent choice for those who desire serious heat with a pronounced flavour profile that elevates culinary creations. |
| Plant Size | The Scotch Bonnet Freeport plant is a vigorous and moderately sized grower, typically reaching a height of 60-90 cm (24-36 inches). It develops a sturdy, well-branched structure with lush green foliage and is known for its excellent productivity, often laden with numerous ripening pods. |
| Pod Size | The pods are visually distinctive and incredibly appealing. They ripen from a light green to a brilliant, glossy golden-yellow or bright orange when fully mature, often with a slightly irregular, wrinkled, or crinkled surface. Their most unique feature, characteristic of Scotch Bonnets, is their often flattened, puckered, or "squashed" shape, indeed resembling a small bonnet hat. They are typically 3-5 cm (1.2-2 inches) in length and 4-6 cm (1.6-2.4 inches) in diameter at their widest point. |
| Flavour |
The Scotch Bonnet Freeport Chilli truly shines with its remarkably complex and highly sought-after flavour profile, characteristic of premium Capsicum chinense varieties. It is intensely aromatic, releasing a strong fruity and vibrant fragrance. Upon tasting, it delivers a distinct and rich tropical fruitiness, often described as having pronounced notes of pineapple, mango, or even sweet apple, which provides a vivid and harmonious contrast to its intense heat. This rich, complex flavour is indispensable for authentic Caribbean cuisine, making it perfect for jerk marinades, vibrant pepper sauces, seafood dishes, curries, and any dish where you want both significant heat and a deep, sweet, and highly aromatic chilli contribution. |
| Growing Conditions |
All plants are grown on our farm in Norfolk, UK and are grown in an open pollinated area.
Couldn't load pickup availability
-
Hurry, only 8 items left in stock!
