Description
Chilli Name : MALAWI BIRDSEYE
Chilli Species : Frutescens
Chilli Origin : Malawi (Southeast Africa)
Chilli Heat : Very Hot
Malawi Birdseye is a classic African birdseye chilli, part of the same piri-piri family that spread across the continent through Portuguese trade in the 1500s. In Malawi, it became a cornerstone crop — valued for its fiery heat, strong flavour, and resilience in hot, dry climates. It remains one of Africa’s most exported chillies today.
Pods are small and upright, around 2–3 cm long, ripening from green to brilliant red. The flavour is bright, citrusy, and slightly smoky, with very hot heat in the 100,000–175,000 SHU range. Its clean, direct burn and bold flavour make it ideal for African sauces, chilli oils, and seasoning pastes — and it’s the backbone of many piri-piri blends used worldwide.
Plants are compact and bushy (50–70 cm tall), producing hundreds of pods through the season. Hardy and drought-tolerant, this variety thrives where others struggle, yet performs beautifully in pots or greenhouses in cooler regions.
Seeds germinate best at 28–30 °C, sprouting within 10–21 days. Plants mature in about 90–100 days, producing consistent yields well into autumn.
