Chiltepin Chile Peppers
America's first protected chile pepper
September 2, 2000

The National Forest Service has reserved 2,500 acres in the Coronado National Forest in Tucson, Arizona, for the Wild Chile Botanical Area, home of the largest population of chiltepin chile peppers north of Mexico. The chiltepin, called the "mother of all peppers," is thought to be the oldest known of the Capsicum genus, as well as the hottest wild variety in the Americas—even hotter than the habañero. They grow on the rocky surfaces of steep slopes and are difficult to find because they are usually protected by other shrubbery.

Cooks in northern Mexico regularly use chiltepins, but you aren't likely to find them in your local supermarket. You can, however, buy dried peppers or seeds from Native Seeds/SEARCH in Tucson.

Native Seeds/SEARCH
Tucson, AZ
520-622-5561
www.nativeseeds.org

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