Spice
Capsicum frutescens
B tier
Capsicum frutescens includes tabasco-type and many small hot chillies with upright fruit and sharp heat. Flavour is bright and piercing rather than deep fruity like some chinense pods. Famous in fermented hot sauces (Tabasco). Use fresh or mashed into vinegar sauces. Overlap with bird’s eye naming can confuse—check species if precision matters.
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Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
DriedFlakeFreshPickledPowderRoastedSauceSmoked
Traits
BrightHotPungentSharpTabasco TypeTropicalUpright Fruit
History
BR
Frutescens-type chillies were used in South America.
Portuguese and Spanish trade spread frutescens to Africa and Asia.
US
Tabasco sauce commercialised frutescens mash in Louisiana.
Frutescens remained important in hot sauce industries.