Mexico's Wildest, Most Intense Chile

Chiltepin is the original wild chile of Mexico — small, round, and ferociously hot. Harvested from wild plants in the mountains and deserts of Sonora, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa, this is not a cultivated crop. It is a 100% wild-foraged pepper, hand-picked from its natural habitat and prized for its intense, smoky heat and complex earthy flavor. Sold per pound.

⚠️ Extreme Heat Warning

Do NOT eat whole or alone. Chiltepin is one of the hottest chiles in Mexico, reaching up to 100,000 Scoville units. Eating it whole without food can cause severe burning, stomach pain, and intense discomfort. Always use in small amounts as a seasoning — never as a snack on its own.

How It's Used in Mexico

• Seafood salsas — crushed into a raw salsa with lime, tomato, and onion, spooned over shrimp cocktail, ceviche, aguachile, and oysters
• Aguachile base — the traditional Sinaloan aguachile gets its signature punch from chiltepin, not serrano
• Caldo de mariscos — dropped whole into seafood broth for a slow-building, deep heat
• Machaca and carne seca — crumbled over dried beef dishes in Sonora for an authentic regional kick
• Table condiment — kept in a small jar at the table in Sonoran homes, crushed between fingers directly onto food
• Mezcal and beer pairings — floated in a cold beer or mezcal shot for a traditional Sonoran drink ritual

Perfect for Seafood

Chiltepin is the go-to chile for Mexico's Pacific coast seafood tradition. A pinch crushed over shrimp cocktail, stirred into aguachile verde, or dropped into a caldo de camarón transforms the dish with a heat that hits fast and fades clean — no lingering bitterness, just pure fire and flavor.

Wild-Harvested. Authentic. Irreplaceable.

Unlike farmed chiles, wild chiltepin has a flavor profile that cannot be replicated. Its heat is sharp and immediate, its aroma is earthy and slightly smoky, and its size — no bigger than a pea — makes it deceptively powerful. A little goes a very long way.

🌶️ Wild-foraged in Mexico. Store in a cool, dry place. Handle with care — wash hands thoroughly after handling and avoid contact with eyes.