Scoville Heat Units: 100,000 to 350,000 SHUCapsicum Frutescens As more and more people get to know about the utter variety available in the world of peppers, the flavor possibilities become endless. Each pepper has a unique taste, spice level, as well as texture. Not to mention, many peppers have unique shapes, colors, and physical characteristics that make them stand out from among the rest. One of the most interesting looking chilies is the Wiri Wiri Pepper from Guyana, South America. It is a staple spice from the South American region and an ingredient so common that most Guyanese kids grow up eating them. The Wiri Wiri pepper is known for its tomato-like appearance and delicious, tangy flavor. It is an essential ingredient when it comes to Guyanese cooking and makes for some extremely appetizing dishes. Let’s get familiar with the Wiri Wiri Pepper. This puts them on par with a habanero pepper or Scotch bonnet pepper in heat. While they may be nicknamed Hot Cherry Peppers for their appearance, they taste nowhere near as sweet as a cherry. The peppers grow upright like ornaments on the plant, held erect and upside down by their stalks. They start out as green spheres that transition into an orange and then a blood red shade as the peppers turn from green to orange to red and becomes spicier. They are red when mature. Not only that, but many people like to eat the Wiri Wiri pepper fresh, right off the stalk, with their meals as it is extremely flavorful and the spice level is relatively tolerable. It is also used to make peppered rum. The unique, tangy taste of the pepper makes it a great addition to most dishes, especially if you are already using tropical or Asian ingredients. You could describe its flavor profile as something close to a Habanero pepper, or maybe even a tomato if you focus on the tanginess. The sweet and spicy taste is what makes it such a good pepper to pair or fuse with Asian cuisine. You can use it to make some tangy sauces and sides. If you live further out, you will be disappointed to know that it may be difficult to acquire the pepper, especially locally. You can try looking for them online but you are most likely to find dried Wiri Wiri peppers at best. The flavor profiles of these three spices are also pretty similar, having the same fruity and tangy touch. Got any questions? Let me know.
Learn About These Other Hot Chili Peppers
African Bird’s Eye / African Devil Devil’s Tongue Pepper: All About Them Carolina Cayenne Chili Peppers Fatalii Chili Peppers Datil Pepper: Fiery Chili from St. Augustine Sugar Rush Chili Peppers Tshololo Chili Pepper Bahamian Chili Peppers Tiger Paw NR Chili Peppers Tabiche Chili Peppers Madame Jeanette Chili Peppers Jamaican Hot Chili Peppers There are even more here!
