Native to South America, this pepper is particularly popular with fans of flavorful peppers who want a balance of heat and rich flavor.

With an estimated heat level of 15,000 to 30,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), Aji Pineapple delivers noticeable heat alongside the fruity notes that make it distinctive. It’s an excellent choice for homemade hot sauces, salsas with tropical flavors, and tropical-inspired recipes.

This variety produces long, tapered peppers that can reach approximately 10 cm in length. Green at first, they turn a beautiful yellow when ripe. Their aromatic flesh is suitable for eating fresh or dehydrating to make homemade pepper powder.

How can you use Aji Pineapple peppers in cooking?

With its fruity aroma and balanced heat, the Aji Pineapple pepper offers plenty of ways to get creative in the kitchen:

• Homemade hot sauces: pair its tropical notes with pineapple, mango, lime, or vinegar to create a fruity, spicy sauce.
• Fresh salsas: finely chop it and add it to a mixture of tomatoes, red onions, cilantro, and lime.
• Fish and seafood: use it to spice up ceviche, marinated shrimp, or grilled fish.
• Marinades with tropical flavors: combine it with citrus, garlic, and a little honey to serve with chicken or pork.
• Homemade dried peppers and pepper powder: dry the ripe peppers to preserve their flavor and have a distinctive seasoning on hand year-round.

Aji Pineapple is an appealing variety for spicy-food enthusiasts who want to create original recipes without overpowering the flavors of other ingredients.

Growing Aji Pineapple peppers

The Aji Pineapple pepper is a vigorous, productive variety with a branching growth habit. It reaches approximately 100 cm tall under good growing conditions. It can be grown in the ground, in a greenhouse, or in a large pot, provided it has enough warmth, light, and space.

When and how should you sow Aji Pineapple pepper seeds?

For healthy plants, sow the seeds between January and April, ideally in a warm, bright environment.

1. Sow the seeds in a fine, well-draining seed-starting mix, covering them lightly.
2. Maintain a temperature of 26 to 28 °C to encourage germination, which generally takes 7 to 20 days under good conditions.
3. Use a seed-starting greenhouse or heat mat to maintain a consistent temperature.
4. Keep the growing medium slightly moist, without overwatering or letting water pool.
5. Once the seeds have sprouted, place the seedlings in a bright spot and transplant them into larger pots when they are sufficiently developed.
6. Gradually acclimate the plants to outdoor conditions before moving them to their permanent location.

What sun exposure and soil should you choose?

Aji Pineapple peppers thrive in a very sunny, warm spot sheltered from the wind. Give them at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, ideally more.

Plant it in fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Water regularly during growth and fruit formation, but avoid waterlogging the soil. A moderate amount of fertilizer suitable for vegetable plants can support its growth and production.

In the French climate, move the plants outdoors about 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost, when temperatures are mild enough and the risk of cold weather has passed.

Flowering and harvest

Aji Pineapple produces white flowers before its long peppers form. The peppers ripen from green to lemon yellow. Allow approximately 90 days for them to mature, depending on growing conditions.

Harvest the peppers when they reach their characteristic yellow color. Harvesting regularly lets you enjoy them at their peak ripeness.

For more information, check out our pepper-growing guide and pepper-growing journal for practical tips on successful sowing and a good harvest.

Aji Pineapple pepper characteristics

• Variety: Aji Pineapple
• Botanical species: Capsicum baccatum
• Packet contents: 20 pepper seeds
• Origin: South America
• Heat level: 7/10
• Scoville heat rating: 15,000 to 30,000 SHU
• Ripe pepper color: lemon yellow
• Pepper shape: long and tapered
• Pepper dimensions: approximately 2 × 10 cm
• Flavor: fruity and tropical, with notes reminiscent of pineapple
• Growth habit: branching and spreading
• Approximate height: 100 cm
• Flower color: white
• Sowing period: January to April
• Optimal germination temperature: 26 to 28 °C
• Estimated germination time: 7 to 20 days
• Flowering period: May to July
• Estimated time to maturity: approximately 90 days
• Uses: hot sauces, salsas, marinades, dishes with international flavors, and dried peppers

Grow Aji Pineapple peppers from seed and enjoy their tropical-scented yellow peppers, adding a fruity, spicy touch to your homemade recipes.