Fish Pepper

[Trip.trip]

Finally got my hands on some fish pepper seeds this season, I've been wanting to grow these for a while, mostly for the history and the look, I sprouted a few indoors and just moved them outside last week, seeing the variegated leaves alone are worth the effort, but I also want to see how the heat and flavor compare once they start producing, if you've grown them before please, what's your take on their heat level? I've read they hover somewhere between jalapeño and cayenne, but that seems to vary a lot, also, one more.....fresh or sauces??

 

[MildToWild]

Sweet find! I've grown fish peppers too. The heat's kinda jumpy, usually like a hotter jalapeño but not as crazy as a cayenne. Those ripe red ones? Watch out, they got some serious kick. I love them fresh in seafood for their sharp, bright heat. Made a fermented sauce once that was killer. What's your plan,fresh or sauce?

 

[Up_Stream]

Fish pepper is a good little pepper, and the variegated plants and striped pods look pretty cool. I'd also say the heat level is around a spicy jalapeño. Its origin is believed to be from Africa originally, and was brought to America by slaves. It was originally grown n the Philly/Baltimore area, and is the foundation for Chesapeake Bay's Old Bay Seasoning.

 

[Truth or Dare]

Do you think the hype around fish peppers is more about their striking variegation and history than actual flavor or heat...like, are we growing them more for looks than taste?

 

[cozycole]

Finally got my hands on some fish pepper seeds this season, I've been wanting to grow these for a while, mostly for the history and the look, I sprouted a few indoors and just moved them outside last week, seeing the variegated leaves alone are worth the effort, but I also want to see how the heat and flavor compare once they start producing, if you've grown them before please, what's your take on their heat level? I've read they hover somewhere between jalapeño and cayenne, but that seems to vary a lot, also, one more.....fresh or sauces??

Awesome! I like using them in sauces more than fresh, they blend great and keep their flavor. Let us know how yours turn out!

 

[Up_Stream]

IMHO, the most common way Fish peppers are used is dried, then ground, to create dried seasoning blends.