'Bolsa de Dulce' Mild Hot Pepper

Capsicum baccatum

Origin: Allentown, PA

Improvement status: Cultivar

Seeds per packet: ~10

Germination tested 08/2024: 75%

Life cycle: Annual

The name literally means "Bag of Sweetness," and this pepper does not disappoint. 'Bolsa de Dulce' is a delicious, fruity, only mildly hot pepper (at 1,500 SHU, it's roughly a third as hot as a jalapeño). The tall and productive plants yield red fruits which are pear or lantern shaped. This variety comes from a cross between 'Aji Yellow' seasoning pepper and 'Carmine Red Habanero' made by Bryan Townshend. Our seed comes from longtime EFN grower Kevin Bane, of Philadelphia, Tennessee, who is on a mission to identify milder hot peppers that still have great flavor, in an effort to make them more accessible to more people. He says this about 'Bolsa de Dulce': "These are very special peppers that should be available in farmers markets and at more locations. They have barely a hint of heat, thick walls, and a wonderful fruity flavor not found in many varieties. These would be perfect if you have children that can only handle a tiny bit of spice to use in your cooking and are absolutely one of my favorite peppers of all time."