Description
Chilli Name : JALAPEÑO ZAPOTEC
Chilli Species : Annuum
Chilli Origin : Mexico (Oaxaca – Zapotec region)
Chilli Heat : Hot
Jalapeño Zapotec is a traditional Mexican heirloom variety believed to have originated in the Zapotec region of Oaxaca, one of the oldest chilli-growing areas in Mexico. It represents the jalapeño in its most authentic, rustic form — thick, juicy, and full of bold, earthy heat.
Pods are larger and rougher-skinned than commercial types, 8–10 cm long and 3–4 cm wide, ripening from dark green to deep red. The flavour is rich, smoky, and complex, with more depth than modern hybrids. Heat is hot, typically around 20,000–30,000 SHU — making it considerably stronger than standard jalapeños but still balanced enough for salsas, grilling, and drying into chipotle-style chillies.
Plants are vigorous and tall (80–100 cm), with heavy yields and strong resilience to heat and humidity. The Zapotec line is valued for its traditional character — a reminder of how jalapeños tasted before modern breeding focused on uniformity.
Seeds germinate best at 28–30 °C, sprouting within 10–21 days. Plants mature in about 100–110 days, producing a long, steady harvest through late summer.
