Rocoto
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| Heat : Very Hot (SR: 50,000-250,000) |
The rocoto, or locoto (Capsicum pubescens) is a medium sized round chili pepper common in Peru and Bolivia. Rocoto pods have thick walls, like a bell pepper, but are quite hot. Foliage is dark green and pubescent (hairy). The plant has purple blossoms and the seeds are dark brown or black. The plants grow up to 6 ft high if supported. Like the other Capsicum species, the rocoto is a perennial, and if protected from frost and pruned back it will grow many years.
Rocoto is among the oldest of domesticated peppers, and was grown up to 5000 years ago. It is probably related to undomesticated peppers that still grow in South America (cardenasii, eximium, and others). This pepper is a different species than any other breed, most of which share the same few species.
Although most rocotos are red, there is also a yellow type that is common in the Caribbean and Mexico.
Other names for Rocoto: locoto, manzano, canario (the yellow type), caballo, & peron.
A popular dish in South America, rocoto relleno, is prepared by stuffing rocotos with a meat mixture.
In the United States, locoto sauce is sometimes available at Latin-American grocers.
