Aji Norteno

Description

Aji Norteno takes its name from the north of Peru, the norte, where it is grown in the coastal valleys around Virú and Lambayeque. There it is not a collector’s curiosity but an everyday kitchen chili, chopped fresh over fish and seafood or blended into the sauces and pastes that form the base of so many Peruvian dishes.

The pods are long and slender, around 8–10 cm, slightly wrinkled and gently curved, and they hang from the branches in good numbers. They ripen from green to a glossy red. The flavour is sweet and fruity with a crisp, green-apple brightness, and the heat is moderate: plenty of character, but never so much that it drowns out the food.

That balance makes it a very practical chili. Use it raw in salsas and ceviche-style dishes, cook it down into a red aji paste, or slice it into a marinade for grilled fish or chicken.

The plant grows big, easily two metres in a large pot and more in open ground, so give it a roomy container and a sturdy support. It is on the late side, so an early start pays off. It overwinters well and comes back stronger in its second season.

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: Chili Seeds , C. baccatum , Medium , Easy to grow