Description
Chilli Name : ROCOTO COSTA RICA
Chilli Species : Pubescens
Chilli Origin : Costa Rica
Chilli Heat : Very Hot (100,000–200,000 SHU)
Rocoto Costa Rica is a Central American strain of Capsicum pubescens, the famous “hairy-leaf chilli” native to the Andes and grown widely across highland regions of Latin America. This Costa Rican selection stands out for its large pods, high productivity, and deep fruity flavour, all packed into a plant that thrives in cooler growing conditions.
Pods are thick-walled and apple-shaped, typically 5–6 cm across, ripening from green to deep red. The flavour is sweet, juicy, and intensely aromatic, followed by a very hot burn in the 100,000–200,000 SHU range — similar to a strong habanero but with the distinct flavour profile only pubescens can offer. The black seeds and fine pubescence on the leaves are signature traits of the species.
Plants are vigorous and long-lived, reaching up to 1.5 metres tall with woody stems and dark-green, hairy foliage. They thrive in cooler climates compared to most chillies, making them an excellent choice for UK and European growers when overwintered.
Seeds germinate best at 24–28 °C, often taking 21–30 days due to the hard seed coat typical of pubescens. Plants mature in 110–130 days and can fruit for several years if protected from frost.
