Red Sweet Tooth Chile Peppers
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers are elongated pods, averaging 18 to 22 centimeters in length and 5 to 6 centimeters in diameter, and have a conical, slightly flattened shape that tapers to a point on the non-stem end. The skin is smooth and glossy, ripening from green to dark red when mature, and depending on the pepper, defined ribs and creases may be present. Underneath the surface, the medium-thick flesh is crisp, aqueous, and pale red, encasing a central cavity filled with membranes and small, round, and flat cream-colored seeds. Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers are known for their crunchy, juicy consistency and have a very sweet flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers are available year-round with a peak season in the fall.
Current Facts
Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers, botanically classified as Capsicum annuum, are a very sweet, dulce Italiano-type pepper that belongs to the Solanaceae or nightshade family. Also known as Ramiro peppers, Sweet Pointed peppers, and Crescendo® sweet pointed peppers, Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers earned their name from their high sugar content, tasting even sweeter than most varieties labeled as sweet peppers, and are a popular variety grown year-round in Europe. Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers are also favored as a specialty, home garden variety. The pepper plants are compact with the ability to be grown in containers and produce high yields of large, sweet peppers.
Nutritional Value
Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that can help boost the immune system and are a good source of vitamins A and E. They also contain potassium, which can help regulate fluid levels in the body, and fiber, which has been shown to help normalize digestion.
Applications
Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers are best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as grilling, sautéing, stir-frying, and baking. The peppers can be sliced and added fresh to salads, pizzas, and pasta, or they can be consumed straight, out-of-hand, as a crunchy snack. The peppers can also be diced and added to mango salsas, tomato salsas, and relishes, or sliced and served with dips. In addition to fresh applications, Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers are ideal for grilling or roasting, which will bring out the sweetness in the peppers. They can also be stuffed with cheeses, meats, or grains, stir-fried into noodles, tossed into soups, layered in sandwiches, or stewed and served with roasted meats. Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers pair well with meats such as sausage, beef, poultry, fish, and lamb, cheeses such as mozzarella, asiago, cheddar, goat, and feta, soy sauce, tomatoes, mushrooms, couscous, rice, legumes, olives, herbs such as mint, cilantro, basil, and oregano, and potatoes. The fresh peppers will keep up to one week when stored whole and unwashed in a paper or plastic bag in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers are featured in two products, red pepper jelly and red pepper relish, made by Glenwood Valley Farms in Langley, British Columbia. The farm opened in 1987 and distinguished itself as a farm that lets none of their products go to waste. In efforts to meet both the demand for good looking produce as well as their commitment to zero waste, the farm sends what they consider #1-grade produce, or produce that is aesthetically pleasing, into the food chain and #2-grade products, produce with minimal physical defects, are made into pickles, relishes, jams, and jellies.
Geography/History
Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers were first developed in the Netherlands in 1996 by the De Ruiter Seed company under the name Ramiro. Since its introduction, the sweet peppers have become a popular variety throughout Europe and currently are managed by a grower’s association known as SweetPoint. To maintain year-round availability, the peppers are cultivated in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom in the summer, and in Spain during the remainder of the year. Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers were also introduced into Canada as Crescendo® peppers and are grown in greenhouses for year-round availability, exporting the peppers throughout North America. Today Red Sweet Tooth chile peppers can be widely found through specialty grocers and local markets throughout Europe and British Columbia and are also found just over the border in the greater Seattle area.
