The
Piquin pepper (or "Pequin") is a hot chili pepper similar to the bird's
mouth and Thai
prik kee noo, although not as hot measuring just 40,000
to 58,000 on the Scoville scale.
Piquin has a
compact habit
growing typically 0.3 - 0.6 meters tall, with bright green, ovate
leaves and small fruits that rarely exceed 20 mm in length. Like most
chilies, the piquin fruits start out green, ripening to brilliant red
at maturity. The flavour is often described as citrusy, smoky,
and
nutty.
Other common names of the fruits from this
plant are pinhead pepper, chili petin, chiltepin, and chili
mosquito.
Common
uses include pickling, salsas and sauces, soups, and vinegars. Some
varieties of hot sauces list Piquin peppers among their
ingredients.
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