Description
Chilli Name: PI 585252
Chilli Species: Chinense
Chilli Origin: Brazil
Chilli Heat: Mild
PI 585252 Chilli — A Traditional Brazilian Pimenta de Cheiro from the USDA Collection
PI 585252 is a preserved accession of Capsicum chinense, collected in Brazil and held in the USDA Plant Introduction (PI) database. It represents one of the many regional types within the Pimenta de Cheiro group — a class of aromatic, low-heat chillies central to Brazilian culinary culture.
The plant produces small, lantern-shaped pods that typically ripen from green to bright yellow, though some strains may show red or orange tones. True to the Pimenta de Cheiro type, this variety offers a fruity, floral aroma with very low to mild heat — typically around 0–5,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). The flavour is highly prized in Brazil, especially in Bahian and Northeastern cuisine, where these chillies are used to flavour moquecas, beans, rice dishes, and sauces.
PI 585252 grows as a compact, bushy plant, well-suited for both field and container cultivation. It is productive, resilient in warm climates, and particularly valuable to seed savers and breeders working with traditional chinense lines.
While not a commercial variety in the global market, PI 585252 offers a snapshot of Brazil’s diverse chilli heritage — aromatic, accessible, and culturally significant. It’s an excellent choice for growers looking to explore the depth of flavour found in low-heat chinense chillies.
