Lemon drop Chilli

Chilli with the taste of citrus

The Lemon drop Chilli (Aji Limon) is popular in Peru where it is known as Qillu Uchu. It is from the Capsicum baccatum species instead of the more widely known C Chinense and C Frutens Chilli species.

Image: Lemon drop chillies
Popular chilli in Peru where it is used to make ceviche and Tigre de leche

It grows into a bush of between 4 and six feet and produces cone-shaped yellow chillies with some wrinkling. The Lemon Drop Chilli has a Scoville rating of between 15000 and 30000 SHU, with a taste described as resembling a Habanero with a citrus and lemon note.

It grows from green to yellow, and at maturity reaches a length of between 2 and 3 inches (50 to 60 mm) and a width of approximately an inch (12 mm). It is a high yielding plant that can easily produce 100 pods in a growing season.

In Peru, the Lemon Drop is widely used as a fresh seasoning and makes Ceviche Peruano de Pescado Blanco (Peruvian ceviche made with white fish), Aji de Gallina (Peruvian Hot Chilli chicken), hot sauces, jams, and salsa. Its citrus flavour lends itself particularly well to the making of Tigre de leche (the marinate that ceviche is made from), but that also can be served in a shot glass as an appetizer.

 

Image credit  Richard Elzey  / CC BY 2.0 / via Flikr