Description
Chilli Name : BISHOP’S HAT (PI 497974)
Chilli Species : Baccatum
Chilli Origin : Brazil
Chilli Heat : Mild–Medium
The Bishop’s Hat, also known as Bishop’s Crown, Friar’s Hat, or Campanella, is a traditional Brazilian baccatum with a striking shape that resembles a bishop’s mitre. This distinctive pod form, along with its gentle heat and fruity flavour, has made it one of the most recognisable baccatum varieties worldwide. Its PI number (497974) reflects its inclusion in the USDA germplasm collection.
Pods are unusual and ornamental, 4–7 cm across, with winged, lobed sides forming the signature “hat” shape. They ripen from green to red, offering sweet, tangy flesh with mild to medium heat concentrated in the central body of the fruit.
Plants are vigorous and tall, often reaching 100–150 cm, producing heavy crops over a long season. Their unusual pod shape makes them highly ornamental as well as useful in the kitchen.
Seeds germinate best at 25–28 °C, sprouting within 10–21 days. Plants usually require 100–120 days from sowing to harvest. In the UK, greenhouse or polytunnel growing ensures full maturity, though outdoor crops are possible in a warm summer.
