Champion

Description

Champion originally came to us from a USDA seed bank accession, and it has been growing in our greenhouse since the early 2000s without ever being dropped from the list. At first glance it looks like one more bell-shaped aji, with its broad lobed shoulders and short, flared body. Taste one and the difference is clear: it is much fruitier than the usual Bishop’s Hat types, juicy and bright rather than plain.

The pods are chunky and palm-sized, with crisp, juicy flesh. They ripen from green through yellow and orange to a deep red, and the flavour shifts along the way. Our favourite moment to pick them is when they are just turning yellowish orange: sweet, fruity and fresh, with only a gentle warmth behind it.

Heat stays firmly on the mild side, so Champion is a chili you can eat whole, slice into salads or stuff and roast without warning your guests. The wide, open shape makes the pods easy to hollow out.

The plant is very prolific and forgiving. Give it a medium pot or a bed, a stake once it gets heavy, and keep picking, and it carries a steady crop until the season ends. Open pollinated.

Some chilies are worth tasting before you grow them. → Explore the Vault

Each pack contains approximately 8–10 or more seeds per variety.
Seeds are packaged in a certified EU seed packaging facility in accordance with applicable regulations.

Categories: Fatalii’s Favorites , Chili Seeds , C. baccatum , Mild , Easy to grow