Hainan Yellow Lantern

Description

There is a nice irony in this one. Capsicum chinense got its name in 1776 when Nikolaus von Jacquin described it and assumed, wrongly, that it came from China — the species is in fact Amazonian. Two and a half centuries later, the pepper that best answers to the name is this: a genuine chinense landrace grown on Hainan island, in the tropical south of China.

The pods are squat golden lanterns of about 5 × 3 cm, ripening green to a brilliant yellow, and they carry an enormous fruity, floral habanero aroma with a tropical edge. The heat is upper-habanero — serious, but not superhot territory.

On Hainan almost the entire crop goes into huangdenglong chili sauce, the island’s signature condiment: the pods are salt-fermented and blended with garlic, and the result is the intense gold you see in a jar of it. Worth making at least once. It also dries into a superb powder, and the compact habit suits pot growing and bonchi.

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. chinense , Hot , Bonsai , Easy to grow