Datil pepper
Encyclopedia
The Datil is an exceptionally hot pepper
, a variety of the species Capsicum chinense
(syn. Capsicum sinense).
Datils are similar in strength to habaneros but have a sweeter, fruitier flavor. Their level of spiciness may be anywhere from 100,000 to 300,000 scoville units
. Mature peppers are about 3.5 inches long and yellow-orange in color.
Datil peppers are cultivated throughout the United States
and elsewhere, but the majority are produced in St. Augustine, Florida
. Although local lore suggests datils were brought to St. Augustine by indentured workers from Minorca
in the late 18th century, it is more likely they were brought from Chile around 1880 by a jelly maker named S. B. Valls. Datil peppers are used by the Minorcan community in many recipes. There are many commercial manufacturers of datil pepper products in St. Augustine, and there is an annual Datil Pepper Festival.
Capsicum
Capsicum is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its species are native to the Americas where they have been cultivated for thousands of years, but they are now also cultivated worldwide, used as spices, vegetables, and medicines - and have become are a key element in...
, a variety of the species Capsicum chinense
Capsicum chinense
Capsicum chinense , commonly known as "Yellow Lantern Chili", is a species of Chilli Pepper native to The Americas. C. chinense chillies are well-known for their exceptional heat.-Taxonomy:...
(syn. Capsicum sinense).
Datils are similar in strength to habaneros but have a sweeter, fruitier flavor. Their level of spiciness may be anywhere from 100,000 to 300,000 scoville units
Scoville scale
The Scoville scale is a measurement of the spicy heat of a chili pepper. The number of Scoville heat units indicates the amount of capsaicin present. Capsaicin is a chemical compound that stimulates chemoreceptor nerve endings in the skin, especially the mucous membranes.The scale is named after...
. Mature peppers are about 3.5 inches long and yellow-orange in color.
Datil peppers are cultivated throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and elsewhere, but the majority are produced in St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
. Although local lore suggests datils were brought to St. Augustine by indentured workers from Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
in the late 18th century, it is more likely they were brought from Chile around 1880 by a jelly maker named S. B. Valls. Datil peppers are used by the Minorcan community in many recipes. There are many commercial manufacturers of datil pepper products in St. Augustine, and there is an annual Datil Pepper Festival.