Aji Charapita Pepper (Peruvian Golden Caviar Chili)

Scientific Name: Capsicum chinense
A rare wild chili pepper native to the Peruvian Amazon, highly prized by gourmet chefs and Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide. Often referred to as the world’s most expensive chili pepper, Peruvian Golden Caviar Chili, or Charapita Pepper.

Seed Characteristics

• Seeds are small, flattened, crescent-shaped, and light cream to pale brown in color.
• The seed surface is slightly wrinkled, with each fruit typically containing 15-30 seeds.
• Lightweight seeds with stable germination performance.
• Heirloom, open-pollinated variety; non-GMO.
• Standard product name: Aji Charapita Pepper Seeds.

Fruit & Variety Features
• Fruit Size: Tiny pea-sized round berries, approximately 5-8 mm (0.2-0.3 in) in diameter.
• Color: Fruits mature from green to a vibrant golden-yellow or orange-yellow.
• Stem: Slender green fruit stalks.
• Heat Level: Approximately 30,000-50,000 SHU (Scoville Heat Units), comparable to many Thai bird’s eye peppers.
• Flavor Profile: Exceptionally aromatic with notes of citrus, tropical fruits, and floral undertones.
• Culinary Use: Highly valued for fresh use, hot sauces, pickling, gourmet cuisine, seasoning blends, and cocktail infusions.
• Market Value: Often called the “Caviar of Chili Peppers” due to its rarity, unique flavor, and premium market price.

Growing Information

Sowing
• Sow seeds approximately 0.5 cm (¼ inch) deep.
• Soak seeds in warm water for 6-12 hours before planting to encourage germination.
• Ideal germination temperature: 22-28°C (72-82°F).

Growing Conditions
• Requires full sun and thrives in warm, humid environments.
• Suitable for both container gardening and in-ground cultivation.
• Vigorous, bushy plants with exceptionally heavy yields.
• A mature plant can produce hundreds of fruits under favorable conditions.

Harvest
• Fruits typically mature 90-100 days after sowing.
• Harvest when fruits turn from green to their characteristic golden-yellow color for the best flavor and aroma.

Plant Type
• Tender perennial in tropical climates; commonly grown as an annual in temperate regions.
• Excellent choice for edible gardens, specialty pepper collections, and gourmet culinary production.