Pequin Peppers

Hot. Scoville Heat Units: 70,000 – 100,000

Also known as Chile pequeno, piquen, amash, amomo, bird, bravo, chilillo, chilipiquin, chilpaya, chilpequin, chiltipiquin, del monte, huarahuao.

Birds love them, hence their nickname 'bird pepper'. It is is believed that the birds are how the pepper was spread throughout the Southwest.

Used mainly for liquid hot-pepper seasoning,

Herbs and Spices | Dried and Fresh Peppers | Garlic, Leeks and Onions

Wild chiltepins originated in the Sonoran area of Mexico, where they grow between the desert and mountains under large, protective trees. They are hard to find and pick and are so are somewhat expensive.

They are green maturing to bright red or red-orange and are brownish-red when dried. Pequins have a sweet, smoky flavor and produce a lot of heat. They're small but they pack a punch.