Native American Chiles

Here on this page we introduce you to Native American Chiles. Native American Chiles are not just from the United States but also Baja California, Sonora and Chihuahua Mexico.

Many years ago the Native people and Indians did not have a defined border as we do now. If we go back a few hundred years many of these chiles were grown on both sides of our border.

Native American chiles are not just from Indian settlements or Pueblos. These Heirloom chile seeds have been passed down over the years from families of Spanish settlers, Mexican settlers and later American settlers. They were shared with other seeds of native melons, corn, beans and squash. These seeds were a legacy given to us. They are part of our heritage or our “Chile Heritage”. The media may focus on the most popular or World Record chile. But the greatness of a chile that has been around hundreds or maybe thousands of years is more important to me.

To grow a chile that was once possibly grown by the Toltecs, Mayans or Aztecs humbles me. Stop and think about that a moment! Most of these Native American chiles are not grown commercially. So many are becoming rare and even endangered. But if we make room for them in our garden and share with others we can preserve them. We can keep them from disappearing. But there is also a bonus in growing them! Even though many of them look similar their flavors are very diverse. I have had people do taste testing and watch their eyes go wide in amazement at the difference in flavor and also the depth of flavor. They also produce well and grow fast. The heat is mild in most of them. Only a few are hotter than say a Jalapeno. So you don’t have to have a high heat tolerance to enjoy them!

My goal in 2018 was to collect seeds of as many of these as possible and grow them so I could share them with gardeners all over the world. I don’t expect any of them to become top sellers in my catalog. But in my business it’s not always about profit. It’s about the passion and love of chiles and sharing that with the world. Seeing people experience flavors that amaze them. But most of all honoring the Chile legacy left to us by Native peoples by keeping their heritage alive by telling the world about them!

(Capsicum annuum)

Alcalde

Alcalde is a small village that lies along the Rio Grande river just north of Espanola, New Mexico. Alcalde is another chile grown by the Casados family on their farms for many generations….

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ChilesCaribe2 2018
ChilesCaribe1 2018
(Capsicum annuum)

Caribe

The Caribe is a Native chile of Southern Chihuahua, Mexico. It is from the mountains and used as a fresh salsa chile but can also be dried to make a seasoning…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Casados

Originally this came from a Spanish Heirloom. It is grown in El Guique, New Mexico which is close to the Rio Grande river at 5,500 elevation. The Casados family operates farms in the area and Joanne Casados has a restaurant that she owns and operates…

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ChilesCasados8 2018
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(Capsicum annuum)

Chimayo

Chimayo chiles are a chile that is deeply rooted in Native American and New Mexico Historical culture. Named after the small town just 28 miles north of Santa Fe, New Mexico…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Chocolate Mirasol

Mirasol means looking up at the sun. And the Mirasol chile from New Mexico grows pointing up. However there is much misinformation…

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ChilesChocolateMirasol7 2018
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ChilesCochiti8 2018
(Capsicum annuum)

Cochiti Pueblo

The Cochiti Pueblo is located 22 miles southwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico and is part of city outskirts of Albuquerque for statistical purposes like the census. It is at an elevation of 5,200 feet above sea level…

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(Capsicum annuum)

El Rito

The name El Rito in Spanish means “Little River”. It is a small community Northwest of Espanola, New Mexico and is at an Elevation over 6,000 feet…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Escondida

Escondida is a small town just south of Socorro, New Mexico. The name means in Spanish means hidden. Which is funny because it was listed in census in 1860 but then not mentioned for over 25 years? Was it hidden?…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Hernandez

The small community of Hernandez is just over 5 miles Northwest of Espanola, New Mexico. It is know for a famous black and white photograph by Ansel Adams and also a painting by artist Georgia O” Keefe…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Isleta Pueblo

The Native American Pueblo of Isleta is one of the largest of the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico. Like many other Pueblos there it is in the Rio Grande valley. It lies about 15 miles south of Albuquerque, New Mexico…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Isleta Long Pueblo

This Pueblo has been in existence since the early 1400’s. In the 1500’s The Spanish named it Isleta which means “Little Island”. During the Pueblo revolt many fled to Arizona to live with the Hopi tribes…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Jemez Pueblo

The Jemez Pueblo is one of the larger of the 19 Indian Pueblo settlements in New Mexico. It is located on the Rio Jemes river which is a smaller river tributary of the Rio Grande river…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Kori Sitakame

High up in the Tarahumara mountians which are part of the Sierra Occidental range in Chihuahua, Mexico lies the Tarahumara Indian Pueblo of Noragachi. The Tarahumara indians live her at over 7,500 feet above sea level and are known for their amazing feats of distance running…

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ChilesMariaElena9 2018 1
ChilesMariaElena8 2018 1
(Capsicum annuum)

Maria Elena

The origin of Maria Elena comes from my friend Lee who lives outside of Espanola, New Mexico in San Pedro. Maria Elena is a larger variant of the Alcalde chile. Lee for many years did selective breeding from Alcalde to produce a larger version…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Mirasol Chihuahua

Mirasol means looking up at the sun. And the Mirasol chile from New Mexico grows pointing up. However there is much misinformation on the web that says Mirasol is the dried version of Guajillo chile…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Nambe Pueblo

The Nambe pueblo has existed since the 14th century and was one of the main Pueblos that revolted against the invading Spanish government that forced taxes upon the Native Indians. They paid with Cotton and other crops during that time…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Negro De Valle

The Negro De Valle chile comes from the mountains of Northern Chihuahua, Mexico. It is one of two chiles that are said the be the best chiles used to make the famous Mexican beef dish called Chile Colorado. The other being Vallero…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Pico de Gallo

When you hear this name you think of the chopped salsa of onions, tomato, chile and cilantro often served on the side with your Mexican food. But Pico de Gallo is also the name of a chile from the State of Sonora, Mexico that is used in making fresh salsa…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Pico de Pajaro

The Pico de Pajaro are from Yecora, Sonora Mexico. They are nicknamed “Birds Beak” because they sometimes have a slight curve at the end of the pepper…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Quatro Milpas

Quatro Milpas is a small mountain village in the state of Sonora, Mexico. This is where this chile comes from. They are thick and flshy when green and have a nice sweetness…

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(Capsicum annuum)

San Felipe

This Native chile is from the San Felipe Pueblo. A Pueblo is an Historic Indian Settlement that is still lived in today! The Elevation of San Felipe is 5,200 feet which is a short drive north of Bernalillo, New Mexico…

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(Capsicum annuum)

San Juan Tsile Pueblo

The San Juan Tsile Pueblo is now been renamed Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. Spanish settler Don Juan Onate established the first capitol city of New Mexico near this Pueblo in 1598…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Santa Domingo Pueblo

This Pueblo was established in early 14th century. In the 17th century the Spanish renamed it Santa Domingo. Recently it has been changed back to it’s true name “Kewa Pueblo”…

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chilesSanPedroSweet1 2018
(Capsicum annuum)

San Pedro Sweet

The story behind the San Pedro sweet pepper is that it comes from my friend Lee who lives close to San Pedro. San Pedro is just a few miles southeast of Espanola and is considered to be part of southern Espanola. But where did Lee get the seeds from?…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Sinahuisa

The Sinahuisa chile comes from Maya Ejido Communal farm in the State of Sonora, Mexico. It looks very similar to a Serrano chile but is smaller on average and has much more flavor than any Serrano I have ever tasted…

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ChilesSinahuisa1 2018
ChilesSinahuisa2 2018
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ChilesTarahumara4 2018
(Capsicum annuum)

Tarahumara

The Tarahumara also called Raramuri are a native people who live in Chihuahua, Mexico. When the Spanish invaded Northern, Mexico they moved further into the higher elevation mountains of the Sierra Occidental range…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Vallero

The Vallero chile comes to us from the Buenaventura valley located in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico. It is one of two chiles that are said the be the best chiles used to make the famous Mexican beef dish called Chile Colorado…

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ChilesVallero10 2018
ChilesVallero9 2018
ChilesVelarde9 2018
ChilesVelarde8 2018
(Capsicum annuum)

Velarde

This chile is named after Velarde a small community that can be found on the road to Taos, New Mexico. Velarde is know for it’s fruit trees and Orchards. During fruit season there is an abundance of fruit stands on display…

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(Capsicum annuum)

Zia Pueblo

The Native American Zia Pueblo is located in the Sierra Nacimiento mountains about 35 miles northwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico at 5,500 feet above sea level…

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