Aji Norteno

Description

An ají from the northern coastal valleys of Peru, around Virú and Lambayeque, where it belongs to the everyday cooking of the region rather than to the collector’s shelf. The pods are long and slender, around 8–10 cm, slightly wrinkled, hanging in numbers on a big plant.

The flavour is sweet and fruity with a green-apple brightness behind it, and the heat is moderate — the kind you can build a sauce on without having to apologise for it. Peruvian cooking uses ají like this as a base rather than a garnish: blended into pastes, salsas and marinades, or simply chopped over grilled fish.

The plant gets genuinely large — over two metres in a big pot, more in the ground — so give it a substantial container. It is a late variety, so start early. It overwinters easily and comes back stronger in its second year, which is the real reward with a plant this size.

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