Capsicum frutescens
Species of chili pepper
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The flowers of Capsicum frutescens are white, with a greenish white or greenish yellow corolla. They are either insect or self-pollinated.
The berries typically grow erect and are ellipsoid-conical to lanceoloid shaped. They are usually very small and pungent, growing 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long and 3–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) in diameter. Fruit typically grows a pale yellow and matures to a bright red, but can also be other colors.
Capsicum frutescens has a smaller variety of shapes compared to other Capsicum species. The species has been bred to produce ornamental strains because of its large quantities of erect peppers growing in colorful ripening patterns.
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Cultivars
Capsicum frutescens includes the following cultivars and/or varieties:
- Wiri wiri, from Guyana
- Cabai rawit, from Indonesia, used in hot Sambal
- Malagueta pepper
- Piri piri, also called African Bird's Eye or African devil
- Siling labuyo, from the Philippines
- Tabasco pepper, used to make Tabasco sauce
- Xiao mi la pepper, literally "little rice pepper", from Yunnan province in China
Origins and distribution
The Capsicum frutescens species originated in South or Central America. It spread quickly throughout the tropical and subtropical regions in this area and still grows wild today. Capsicum frutescens is native to Central America and northern and western South America. C. frutescens may be related to C. chinense.
Uses
Ethiopia
According to Richard Pankhurst, C. frutescens (known as barbaré) was so important to the national cuisine of Ethiopia, at least as early as the 19th century, "that it was cultivated extensively in the warmer areas wherever the soil was suitable." Although it was grown in every province, barbaré was especially extensive in Yejju, "which supplied much of Showa as well as other neighbouring provinces". He singles out the upper Golima River valley as almost entirely devoted to cultivating this plant, where thousands of acres were devoted to the plant and it was harvested year-round.
India
This pepper is common in eastern and southern India where it grows readily in a favorable climate. It is known locally by various common names. It is called kantharimulaku in Malayalam.
Philippines
Siling labuyo, the local cultivar of C. frutescens in the Philippines, developed from plants introduced during the Spanish colonial era. The fruits are widely used for making traditional dips (sawsawan), spiced vinegar (like sinamak), and condiments like palapa. They are also commonly added to various dishes. The leaves are also eaten as a leafy vegetable, most notably in the soup dish tinola.