Shishito

Description

Japan’s favourite frying pepper. Shishitōgarashi takes its name from shishi, lion — the creased, folded tip is said to look like a lion’s head. The pods are slim and wrinkled, around 5–9 cm, thin-walled and thin-skinned, picked bright green.

Almost every pod is mild and slightly sweet, but roughly one in ten to twenty carries real heat — the plant makes capsaicin in response to stress and sun, and nobody can tell the hot ones by looking. That gamble is half the fun and it is why the variety is served the way it is.

The classic treatment is blistering: a very hot dry pan or a grill until the skins char and collapse, then flaky salt. The thin skin is what makes that work — thicker peppers will not blister the same way. Left on the plant they ripen red and turn noticeably sweeter.

Compact, spreading, very heavy-cropping plants, ready at around 60 days green — fast enough for a short northern season — and they keep setting as long as you keep picking.

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. annuum , Mild , Easy to grow