What is a Chipotle Pepper? (2024)

What is a Chipotle Pepper?

Chipotle peppers, we’ve all heard of them, right? But what are they? To put it simply, a chipotle pepper is a jalapeño that has been left on the vine to ripen until red, and is then smoked and dried.

Believe it or not, the word “Chipotle” isn’t just a name for a restaurant. It is actually a compound of two Aztec words (which is probably why the pronunciation is so strange for English speakers!): chilli (hot pepper) and poctli (smoke). Yep, the name more or less means smoked pepper.

Like many other peppers, chipotles are predominantly sourced from Mexico, where they produce two kinds of chipotle peppers—Chipotle Morita and Chipotle Meco.

Types of Chipotle Peppers

Chipotle Morita

Morita, which is most commonly found in the United States, is dried until it is wrinkled all over and a deep brownish-burgundy color. The word morita means “little blackberry or mulberry”, and when you see one of our whole Chipotle Moritas it’s easy to see where the name came from, with its dark color and shriveled appearance. Grown primarily in the Chihuahua State, Moritas still retain some moisture, so they are a little bit leathery and pliable and have an underlying fruitiness. They are also available as Chipotle Morita Flakes or ground into a pure Chipotle Morita Chile Powder.

Chipotle Meco, also known as chili ahumado or típico (the typical chile) are the preferred chipotle pepper in Mexico. Chipotle Meco are fully ripened, red jalapeños that are smoked for nearly twice as long as Chipotle Moritas. They turn ashy brown from the smoke and heat; whole Chipotle Meco look almost cigar-like in their appearance. They taste profoundly smoky and rich. Ground Chipotle Meco Chile Powder is also

A Brief History of the Chipotle Pepper…

The method of smoke-drying jalapeños to make chipotles dates all back to the early food preservation practices used in Mesoamerica. TheAztecs likely began preserving these peppers as a way to safeguard against the potential of a weak harvest. Smoking them was necessary because while peppers were simply left in the sun to dry, the fleshy walls of the jalapeño didn’t dry thoroughly making them susceptible to rot.

This form of chili reached Europe after Christopher Columbus discovered them on his voyage to the New World. Their self-preserving nature made them perfect for crossing oceans without spoiling, allowing them to make it to Spain before spreading to Europe, India and beyond.

Are Chipotle Peppers the Same as Jalapeños?

From Jalapeño to Chipotle

To truly understand the chipotle chile, you’ve got to learn a little about the ‘ole jalapeño pepper. After-all, that is how all chipotles start out as.

But then why do they look so different? That is because we’re accustomed to seeing jalapeño peppers before that have been picked while they’re still green. However, just like any berry (yes, peppers are fruits), they change color as they mature. After a while, jalapeños turning a deep, ruby red. And it’s not just the color that changes. The flavor also develops over time, maturing from the grassy green flavor of an unripe jalapeño to rich, fruity sweetness of a red jalapeño.

What’s the Difference Between Green and Red Jalapeños?

Red and Green Jalapeño Peppers

Wait, there are both red and green jalapeños? Yes. But don’t get confused, they are the same pepper, it’s just that a green jalapeño is picked early before it ripens on the vine, while a red jalapeño is left on the vine longer. Like other chilies that turn red it is older. The red ripened are best to use for smoking, but the green are fine, too.

How do Chipotle Peppers taste?

The distinctive flavor of a chipotle is its smokiness. However, underneath that defining smoke and heat, they are also sweet as allowing the chiles to ripen on the vine to a deep red makes them much sweeter than green jalapenos.

Of course the different types have their own unique flavors. For example, Chipotle Morita Chiles are defined by their smoky flavor of applewood or even pecan, which smoothly balances out the raisin-cherry fruitiness. A small hint of chocolate even peeks in to round out the finish.

Different Forms of the Pepper

Chipotle Powder

Chipotles come in a multitude of forms such as:

chipotle powder
chipotle pods
chipotle flakes
wet chipotle meat marinade
canned chipotles in adobo sauce
concentrated chipotle base
many more

Where do Chipotle Peppers rank on the Scoville Scale?

Chipotles can range in heat from 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville units, making them much hotter than ancho chiles (1,000–1,500 SHU) but milder than tiny red chiles de árbol (15,000–30,000 SHU). Overall, they fall on the lower end of the spectrum beneath other reputable peppers such as the Tabasco, Serrano, and Habanero.

So, How Spicy Is a Chipotle Pepper?

A chipotle’s heat is pretty spicy but it isn’t going to kill you. Unsurprisingly, its Scoville units range are about the same as a regular jalapeño. If that isn’t a good enough reference, its heat is similar to that of the Espelette pepper, Guajillo chili, Hungarian wax pepper, Anaheim pepper and Tabasco sauce.

How to Smoke Your Own Chipotle Peppers

Smoking Chipotle Peppers

Ingredients

As far as ingredients go, making Chipotle is pretty straightforward. All you’ll need is a smoker and some red ripe jalapeños. If you don’t have a smoker, don’t worry, you can always just use a charcoal grill with hot coals on one side and wood chips on the other; place the jalapeños on the wood chip side.

Instructions

Start by smoking the peppers at around 200 degrees Fahrenheit for three to four hours
Once the peppers are smoked, you’ll need to dry them for storage. This is easier if you have a dehydrator, but if you don’t, you can place the chipotle peppers in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit until they’re completely dry, about 12 hours.

How to Use Chipotle Peppers

Chipotle peppers are most commonly used in powdered form. This could come in both homemade products such as chili con carnes or other stews or and commercial products like hot sauce.Due to their strong flavor and spice, Chipotles, are usually one of the defining ingredients in any recipe.

When ground, chipotles combine well with other spices for meat marinades. Of course, the most popular being adobo.

Want to try a Chipotle Flavored Hot Sauce?

Ok, ok the defining flavor in this one may be the ghost pepper but that doesn’t mean you can’t taste the chipotle smokiness in this delicious hot sauce.

Small Axe Peppers Hot Sauce, Ghost Pepper, 5 oz

As someone deeply immersed in the world of culinary arts and flavors, let me enlighten you on the intricacies of chipotle peppers. My expertise spans not only the culinary application but also the historical and cultural aspects that define these smoked wonders.

Firstly, let's decipher the essence of a chipotle pepper. The term "chipotle" itself is derived from two Aztec words - "chilli" meaning hot pepper, and "poctli" signifying smoke. This linguistic origin underscores the very nature of chipotle peppers – jalapeños left to ripen on the vine until they turn red, then meticulously smoked and dried. This process imparts a distinctive smokiness, making chipotle peppers a culinary gem.

The Mexican origin of chipotles is paramount, with two prominent varieties - Chipotle Morita and Chipotle Meco. Chipotle Morita, prevalent in the United States, is dried until it adopts a wrinkled, deep brownish-burgundy appearance. Named after "morita," meaning little blackberry or mulberry, these chipotles retain some moisture, offering a leathery texture and underlying fruitiness. On the other hand, Chipotle Meco, known as chili ahumado or típico, undergoes a longer smoking process, resulting in an ashy brown color and a profoundly smoky, rich taste.

To comprehend the journey of chipotle peppers, we delve into history. Smoke-drying jalapeños, a method rooted in Mesoamerican food preservation practices, originated with the Aztecs. This technique served as a safeguard against weak harvests, ensuring peppers could withstand the test of time. The introduction of chipotles to Europe by Christopher Columbus marked a pivotal moment, as their self-preserving nature made them ideal for long journeys without spoiling.

Now, addressing a common question - are chipotle peppers the same as jalapeños? The answer lies in the evolution from jalapeño to chipotle. Initially, jalapeños start as green peppers, and their transformation involves ripening on the vine, turning red, and developing a richer, fruity sweetness. Chipotle peppers inherit their distinctive smokiness from this maturation process.

Moving on to the taste profile of chipotle peppers, their hallmark is the enveloping smokiness. Beyond this, they harbor a sweet undertone, a result of ripening on the vine to a deep red, imparting a sweetness distinct from green jalapeños. Chipotle Morita chiles flaunt applewood or pecan smokiness, balancing out with raisin-cherry fruitiness, and even a hint of chocolate. In contrast, Chipotle Meco chiles offer a deep, sweet wood smoke, accompanied by smoky, earthy, and slightly grassy notes.

Chipotles come in various forms, from powder and pods to flakes and wet marinades, showcasing their versatility in culinary applications. On the Scoville Scale, measuring chili heat, chipotles range from 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville units, making them spicier than ancho chiles but milder than others like the habanero.

For those inclined to experiment, making chipotle peppers at home involves smoking red ripe jalapeños, either using a smoker or a charcoal grill with wood chips. The smoked peppers are then dried for storage, providing a homemade supply of chipotle goodness.

In culinary endeavors, chipotle peppers find their place in various forms, from powdered additions to homemade stews and commercial hot sauces. The distinct smokiness of chipotles, combined with their heat, makes them a defining ingredient in recipes, notably in adobo sauces and meat marinades.

In conclusion, chipotle peppers are not just a spice; they are a testament to the fusion of tradition, flavor, and culinary ingenuity, offering a journey from Aztec origins to global culinary acclaim.