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Ají Dulce peppers widely vary in appearance depending on the climate, soil, and region they are grown in. The pods can be squat, wrinkled, and hat-like, or they can be oblong to round in shape, averaging 2 to 7 centimeters in diameter and 2 to 10 centimeters in length. They may also have a straight to irregularly curved appearance with slight tapering towards the non-stem end. The medium-thick skin is glossy, taut, and covered in many deep folds and wrinkles. When young, the pepper bears hues of light to dark green and as it matures, it transforms to orange-yellow, and then red. Underneath the skin, the flesh matches the exterior skin tone, depending on maturity, and is crisp and aqueous, encasing a central cavity filled with flat and round, cream-colored seeds. Ají Dulce chile peppers are aromatic and have a sweet, fruity, and smoky flavor mixed with mild heat.
Seasons/Availability
Ají Dulce chile peppers are available year-round, with a peak season in the summer through fall.
Current Facts
Ají Dulce chile peppers, botanically classified as Capsicum chinense, are brightly-colored, wrinkled pods that grow on leafy shrubs and are members of the Solanaceae or nightshade family. Also known as Ajícito, Ají Cachucha, and Ají Gustoso, Ají Dulce chile peppers have a mild heat ranging 0 to 1,000 SHU on the Scoville scale, which is similar to the spice of poblano peppers. Ají Dulce chile peppers are extremely popular in Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican cooking, which are cuisines that value peppers with sweet flavors and mild spice. The peppers are predominately used in sofrito, which is a sauce made from a combination of vegetables that are used as a base flavor in dishes such as stews, braises, and soups.
Nutritional Value
Ají Dulce chile peppers contain potassium, fiber, vitamins A, C, and B6, iron, and magnesium.
Applications
Ají Dulce chile peppers are best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as sautéing, roasting, and stewing. They are most commonly chopped and used in sofrito, which is a savory sauce base made up of bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and cilantro. Ají Dulce peppers are used to flavor sautéed vegetables, summer salads, meat dishes, stews, soups, rice, and bean dishes. They are also used to flavor mild salsa, herbal vinegar, paprika, and sauces. Ají Dulce peppers pair well with potatoes, green lentils, olives, rice, beans, herbs such as cilantro, oregano, parsley, and rosemary, and meats such as poultry, beef, or pork. They will keep up to one week when stored in a paper bag in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Ají Dulce peppers are known to be mild, but as they have increased in demand in worldwide commercial markets, some of the fruits have been found to be much hotter than expected. This spice variation is predominately due to the Ají Dulce being grown near and naturally cross-pollinating with other spicy peppers such as habaneros. This recent spice variation in the pepper has negatively impacted Ají Dulce sales in the United States because consumers are becoming skeptical of the quality of the peppers as there is no way to determine the level of heat that each pepper carries by appearance alone. As a result, many consumers have switched to purchasing other sweet pepper varieties to use in Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican dishes as the traditional cuisine rarely calls for peppers with heat.
Geography/History
Ají Dulce chile peppers are believed to be native to South America, specifically to the Brazilian Amazon, and have been growing wild since ancient times. The peppers were then spread to the Caribbean and Central America via Spanish colonists and Brazilian immigrants. Today Ají Dulce chile peppers can be found at local markets and specialty grocers across South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and also in the Northeastern United States.
SPECIALTY PRODUCE
1929 Hancock St SD CA 92110
View on Instagram
(619) 295-3172 [email protected]
Ají Dulce peppers come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from squat, wrinkled, and hat-like forms to oblong or round shapes, with lengths of 2 to 10 centimeters. Their glossy skin shifts colors as they mature, moving from green to orange-yellow, then red. Featuring a crisp, juicy texture, these aromatic peppers offer a sweet, fruity, and smoky flavor with just a hint of mild heat, making them a versatile ingredient in various dishes.
Specialty Produce
1929 Hancock Street San Diego CA 92110
View on Instagram
(619) 295-3172 [email protected]
Aji Dulce Pepper From Weiser Family Farms In San Diego, California…Ají Dulce Pepper: These peppers are versatile and add distinct flavor to dishes. They are ideal for raw and cooked recipes like sautéing, roasting, or stewing. Key uses include sofrito, a sauce base of bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and cilantro. They complement salads, soups, rice, beans, and meats. To ensure freshness, store them in a paper bag in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Mercado No1 de Surquillo
VXJF+MPH, Surquillo 15047, Peru
Ají Dulce chile peppers are a vibrant, wrinkled member of the nightshade family, prized for their sweet flavor and mild heat, which ranges from 0 to 1,000 SHU on the Scoville scale. Popular in Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican cuisines, they are key ingredients in sofrito, a flavorful vegetable-based sauce used as a foundation in many dishes. They also provide potassium, fiber, vitamins A, C, and B6, iron, and magnesium.
Robert Is Here
19200 SW 344th St Homestead FL 33034
+1 (305) 246-1592
Ají Dulce chile peppers have their origins in the Brazilian Amazon and have been a part of the natural landscape since ancient times. They later expanded across the Caribbean and Central America, facilitated by Spanish colonists and Brazilian immigrants. In present times, these peppers are widely available in local markets and specialty stores throughout South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and even in parts of the Northeastern United States.
Aji Dulce Chile peppers fresh at Union Square Green Market from Eckerton Hill Farms New York…..Ají Dulce peppers are traditionally mild, but heat levels can vary due to natural cross-pollination with spicy peppers like habaneros. This unpredictability in spice has hurt U.S. sales, as consumers can't gauge heat by appearance. This shift has led to many switching to more reliable sweet pepper options for Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican dishes, where heat is typically not desired.
Carulla Oviedo Medellin
Carrera 43a
# 6 Sur 145 Medellin Antioquia
0346045164
Aji Dulce, a popular pepper in South America ……Ají Dulce peppers can significantly differ in shape and size based on where they are cultivated, ranging from wrinkled and hat-like pods to oblong or round forms. These peppers grow between 2 and 10 centimeters in length and undergo a striking color change from green when young to orange-yellow and finally red when mature. Their medium-thick, glossy skin houses a sweet, fruity, and smoky flavor with mild heat, making them a versatile ingredient in many dishes.
Alewife Farm
Clinton Corners, NY [email protected]
Aji Dulce Chile Peppers spotted at Alewife Farm. Spotted at Union Square Greenmarket in Union Square, NYC..Ají Dulce Chile Peppers are versatile and commonly used in sofrito, a base for savory dishes made with bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and cilantro. They enhance the flavor of vegetables, salads, meats, stews, soups, and rice or bean dishes. These peppers pair well with herbs like cilantro and parsley, as well as meats such as beef and pork. Stored in a paper bag in the fridge, they stay fresh for up to one week.
Aji Dulce Chile Peppers spotted at Mercado Melchor Ocampo (MedellÃn). Varying degrees of ripeness (green to red)..Ají Dulce chile peppers, also called Ajícito, Ají Cachucha, and Ají Gustoso, are mild, sweet peppers with a Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) rating between 0 and 1,000. Popular in Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican cuisines, they often feature in sofrito, a savory base for stews, soups, and braises. These peppers are also nutrient-rich, offering potassium, fiber, and vitamins A, C, and B6, along with iron and magnesium.
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