Description
Chilli Name: PI 441715
Chilli Species: Chinense
Chilli Origin: Brazil
Chilli Heat: Mild
PI 441715 Chilli — A Traditional Pimenta de Cheiro from Brazil’s Heartland
PI 441715 is a Brazilian chilli accession preserved in the USDA Plant Introduction (PI) collection, classified as Capsicum chinense. It belongs to the Pimenta de Cheiro group — a class of chillies renowned in Brazil for their intense aroma, fruity flavour, and low to moderate heat. The name translates as “scented pepper,” and PI 441715 fully lives up to that reputation.
Originally collected in Brazil, this variety produces small, lantern-shaped pods, typically ripening from green to bright yellow, though regional variations may include red or orange. Heat levels are modest — usually between 1,000 and 5,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU) — but the flavour is deeply tropical, with notes of passionfruit, mango, and citrus, all wrapped in the classic chinense perfume.
The plant is bushy, compact, and highly productive, thriving in warm climates and long growing seasons. It’s traditionally used in Bahian and Northeastern Brazilian cuisine, often added whole to stews, rice dishes, and sauces for flavour without overpowering heat.
PI 441715 is a culturally important variety that reflects the rich agricultural heritage of Brazil. For growers and cooks alike, it offers a chance to experience the vibrant, aromatic character of Brazilian chillies — perfect for those who want complexity of flavour without extreme fire.
