Description
Chilli Name : HANGIJAO 5 (Space Pepper 5)
Chilli Species : Annuum
Chilli Origin : China (Zhejiang Province)
Chilli Heat : Medium–Hot
Hangijao 5, also known as Space Pepper 5 (杭椒5号), is a refined line from China’s Space Breeding Programme (航天育种), developed to improve yield and flavour over earlier Hangjiao varieties. As with others in the series, chilli seeds were sent into orbit aboard a satellite, exposed to microgravity and cosmic radiation, and selectively bred back on Earth — resulting in stronger, more resilient plants.
This variety originates from Zhejiang Province, where the Hangjiao range was first stabilised. It’s a popular culinary chilli across eastern and southern China, widely used in stir-fries, pickles, and sauces thanks to its fruity aroma and balanced heat.
Pods are long, thin, and gently curved, around 12–15 cm in length. They ripen from light green to rich red, developing a glossy sheen. Heat is medium–hot, generally 25,000–40,000 SHU, with a clean and bright flavour that holds well during cooking.
Plants are upright, vigorous, and high-yielding (80–100 cm), producing dense clusters of pods through warm summer months.
Seeds germinate best at 26–30 °C, sprouting within 10–21 days. Plants mature in about 90–100 days, showing excellent disease resistance and adaptability — a direct result of the space-breeding selection process.
