The Mulato pepper (“Chile Mulato”) is a mild to medium dried Poblano pepper, similar to the Ancho, but with a slightly different flavor. Both are green while growing, but while the Ancho pepper is a Poblano pepper that ripens to a deep red, the Mulato pepper is a Poblano that ripens to a dark brown color, then dried. It grows to about 4 inches long and 2 inches wide, tapering toward the bottom. They do have a delicate smoky flavor, however, which makes them very popular in many different kinds of Mexican dishes. The heat increases the longer the peppers are on the plant, so a typical mulato chile is usually hotter than a typical ancho chile. The chile mulato is probably most famously used in mole sauce, a savory chocolate sauce that is spiced up by mulatos and a few other varieties of peppers. Most people who’ve eaten mulato peppers describe the taste as similar to chocolate and licorice. The next time that you are attempting to make chili or salsa, be sure to pick up some of these unique peppers at the supermarket - they aren’t spicy but are sure to add a unique boost of flavor to your cooking endeavors the next time you’re looking to make a bit of a culinary trip south of the border! NOTE: This page was updated on 7/28/20 to include new photo and information. It was originally published on 9/22/13.
