Peppers
Aji Cristal

Chilean pepper with citrusy flavor and heat. Milder when green, spicier when red. Good for salsa, hot sauce, pickling.

About Aji Cristal

(Capsicum baccatum) A Chilean aji pepper with a bodacious blend of citrusy flavor and heat. This slender, 4-inch pepper transforms from green to yellow and finally a pale red, and the heat intensifies as the fruit reaches maturity. This crispy-fleshed pepper clocks in at about 30,000 Scoville Heat Units, which is six times hotter than a jalapeño. If you prefer your peppers on the milder side, harvest them when green. Our friend Ligia Parisi, who grows Aji Cristal at her farm in Chile, describes using them to create a delicious salsa called Pebre, which is similar to Pico de Gallo. This is an all-around versatile pepper that can be used fresh, for pickling, hot sauce, salsas, soups, and dried and kept longer for seasoning.