Facing Heaven, also known as Chao Tian Jiao (朝天椒), is a traditional chili pepper from China, particularly renowned in Sichuan cuisine. 

Belonging to the genus Capsicum, this chili pepper has a bushy habit, compact growth and high yields. The plant can reach about 75 cm in height and produces numerous small, elongated peppers measuring approximately 3 cm long and 1 cm in diameter.

The peppers start out green before turning a beautiful bright red when fully ripe. At 5,000 to 15,000 Scoville heat units (SHU), Facing Heaven offers moderate to fairly strong heat, ideal for spicing up dishes without masking other flavors.

Prized for its distinctive, slightly citrusy aroma, this chili pepper is a staple of Chinese cooking, particularly Sichuan specialties. It pairs wonderfully with chicken, fish, vegetable stir-fries, noodles and traditional spicy dishes.

Facing Heaven chilies are particularly useful once dried. The small red peppers are traditionally used whole in cooking, especially to flavor chili oils, sauces and wok-fried dishes. They can also be crushed or ground into powder for a spicy condiment with Asian flavors.

With its high yields and ornamental appeal, this variety is also a great choice for a vegetable garden, greenhouse or even a large pot on a sunny patio.

How do you grow Facing Heaven chili peppers?

Facing Heaven is a productive variety that is relatively easy to grow when given the warmth and sun it needs. Its bushy habit and numerous upward-pointing peppers also make it a particularly attractive plant.

Here are a few tips for successfully starting your Facing Heaven chili pepper seeds:

• Seed-starting period: January to April, in a heated, sheltered space.
• Germination temperature: maintain a temperature between 21 and 28 °C. Seeds generally sprout within 7 to 20 days.
• Recommended equipment: a mini greenhouse and a heat mat help maintain a consistent temperature and encourage the seeds to sprout.
• Growing medium: use a light, fertile, well-draining potting mix.
• Sun exposure: choose a sheltered spot with plenty of sun and at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.
• Watering: keep the growing medium slightly moist, but avoid overwatering. Facing Heaven does not tolerate standing water.
• Planting: move your plants outdoors about 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost, once temperatures are warm enough.
• Harvest: allow about 80 days for the peppers to mature into fully ripe red fruit.

You can begin harvesting while the peppers are still green, but it’s best to let them turn completely red to enjoy their distinctive aroma and flavor.

Thanks to its bushy growth and generous yields, Facing Heaven grows well both in the ground and in a pot, provided it gets enough light and warmth and has a suitably sized container.

How can you use Facing Heaven chili peppers in cooking?

Facing Heaven is one of the iconic chili peppers of Sichuan cuisine. It is used in many Chinese recipes to add heat, color and aroma to dishes.

Dried Facing Heaven chilies are traditionally added whole to wok-fried dishes, gradually releasing their flavor into the cooking oil. They are especially popular in spicy Sichuan chicken recipes, Chinese noodles, fish dishes and vegetable preparations.

They are also an excellent ingredient for homemade Chinese chili oil. Simply warm some oil gently with dried chilies, garlic and a few spices to make a fragrant condiment that’s ideal with noodles, Chinese dumplings or soups.

You can also crush the dried peppers to make your own Asian spice blends or grind them into powder to add heat to homemade marinades and sauces.

Facing Heaven is an especially appealing variety for fans of Asian cooking who want to grow their own Chinese chili peppers and enjoy the authentic flavors of Sichuan.

Facing Heaven chili pepper seed characteristics

• Variety: Facing Heaven (Chao Tian Jiao)
• Species: Capsicum
• Origin: China
• Contents: 20 seeds
• Heat level: 6/10
• Scoville heat rating: 5,000 to 15,000 SHU
• Plant habit: bushy
• Plant height: about 75 cm
• Fruit appearance: small, elongated peppers that point upward
• Fruit size: about 1 × 3 cm
• Fruit color: green, turning red when ripe
• Flower color: white
• Flowering period: May to July
• Seed-starting period: January to April
• Germination temperature: 21 to 28 °C
• Germination time: 7 to 20 days
• Time to maturity: about 80 days

Tips for successfully starting chili pepper seeds

You’ll find all our tips for starting seeds successfully, growing healthy plants and harvesting beautiful chili peppers in our chili pepper growing guide, emailed with every seed order.