Aji Cristal

[karstopography]

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I like this pepper. Seems well adapted to our climate here in spite of being a pepper grown in Central Chile. Has citrusy notes on flavor and aroma with a bell pepper crisp texture. Hot, but in a pleasant not overwhelming way. I ordered more Aji pepper seeds like Amarillo and lemon drop. These baccatum types seem extra vigorous and appreciate some shading, that my garden naturally gets with the trees, I’m hoping the other C. Baccatum will turn out similar.

I use them in pico de gallo, salsa, sliced raw for toppings on tacos, hamburgers, things like that. I tried drying a few, but I think they weren’t ripe enough and they turned a weird brown. These peppers take a long time to go from the chartreuse like green/yellow to orangy yellow.

[svalli]

Lemon drop is one of my favorite Baccatums. For some reason I have not been able to get decent crop from Aji Cristal here in Finland, but when living in Wisconsin, it was one of the productive ones.
I like the mild Baccatums like Christmas Bell, which allows me to enjoy the fruity aroma. Last year I grew same shape but yellow color Aji Fantasy, which is created by a breeder in Finland.

I am sure you will enjoy the other Baccatums as much as Aji Cristal. I have found only few Baccatums, which were too hot to use.

Sari

[karstopography]

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Started drying the Aji Cristal peppers as they get to the orangy red stage. Seem to dry well enough on the hot copper. When I get a few, I’ll grind them up.

[worth1]

As for Ali Amarillo make sure you grow the large one not the small one.
There seems to be two different ones according to some people.
I have never seen the small one imported out of Peru.
Only the larger banana type with a thick flesh.
The smaller aji lemon or lemon drop are not only hot but taste like perfume to me and not in a pleasant way.
Some say the two are the same others argue not.

[karstopography]

@worth1 I ordered the Aji Amarillo from Sandia seeds in New Mexico. They describe the peppers as 5”-6”.

I also got the Aji Lemon drop seeds. Aji Cristal has a little perfume like thing going on. I’ll see what I actually grow. My seed varieties are quickly exceeding my garden space.

I like these multi use peppers. Ones that I can pickle, eat fresh, ferment or dry.

Next season, I plan on growing even more peppers. Got to go with things that have a chance to thrive in our summers, plus, I’m really enjoying growing and eating peppers and figuring out the things I can do with them.

[worth1]

Yes I like being able to use space on things I can harvest all summer too.