Picito Pepper: How to Grow, Use, and Store This Chili

The Picito pepper, a member of the Capsicum annuum species, is a small chili variety recognized for its heat packed into a compact size. Its small dimensions, often compared to a pea or small bean, and compact growth habit make the plant suitable for various cultivation settings.

Picito Pepper Characteristics

Picito pepper fruits measure between five to six centimeters in length and grow facing downward. As they mature, these peppers transform from bright green to a vibrant red, which signals a development in their flavor and heat. The plant is a high-yielding variety, often producing more than 75 peppers per plant.

The Picito pepper offers a spicy taste and a crisp texture. Its primary contribution to a dish is a clean, straightforward heat rather than specific flavor notes like smokiness or citrus.

A pepper’s heat is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). The Picito pepper has a rating of approximately 20,000 SHU, making it considerably hotter than a jalapeño, which ranges from 2,500 to 8,000 SHU. Its heat is comparable to a serrano pepper, which falls between 10,000 and 23,000 SHU, placing it in the medium-hot category.

Culinary Uses

The pepper’s manageable size and potent spice make it a flexible ingredient for adding a kick to many dishes. They can be sliced into hot salads or chopped into stir-fries, where their heat is evenly distributed. They are particularly well-suited for Asian cuisine, which often balances spicy, sweet, and savory flavors.

Picito peppers are an excellent choice for homemade hot sauces and salsas. Their straightforward spicy flavor provides a solid base of heat that can be layered with other ingredients like fruits and herbs. The peppers can also be used to infuse oils or vinegars for marinades and dressings.

As a finishing spice, the peppers can be dried and crushed into flakes or ground into a powder for precise control over the amount of heat added to a dish. Whole peppers, fresh or dried, can be added to soups, stews, and braises to infuse the dish with heat as it cooks.

Growing Picito Peppers

Cultivating Picito peppers is an accessible project for many gardeners due to the plant’s compact nature. These peppers thrive in full sun, requiring at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. The soil should be well-draining to prevent root rot. A sandy loam or a quality potting mix amended with organic matter is ideal.

Watering should be consistent, with the soil kept evenly moist but not waterlogged. Gardeners can start Picito peppers from seed indoors about eight to ten weeks before the last expected frost date or purchase starter plants. The compact habit of the ‘Pikito’ variety makes it well-suited for container gardening, and a larger container will provide more space for root growth.

The peppers are ready for harvest when they reach their full size and start to change color from green to red. They can be picked when green for a milder heat or left on the plant to ripen to red for a fuller flavor and maximum spiciness. Harvesting regularly encourages the plant to continue producing more fruit.

Finding and Storing Picito Peppers

Picito peppers can be found at specialty grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and through online seed retailers. Fresh peppers are common during the growing season, while dried or powdered versions may be available year-round. Seeds are also readily available from various suppliers for those interested in growing their own.

Proper storage maintains the quality of the peppers. Fresh Picito peppers should be stored in the refrigerator, where they will keep for one to two weeks. For longer-term storage, they can be frozen whole or chopped, which preserves their heat and much of their flavor for several months. Dried Picito peppers have a much longer shelf life. They should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark, and dry place, such as a pantry or spice cabinet, where they can last for a year or more.