Ají Dulce

Ají Dulce (Capsicum chinense) is a small, thin-walled sweet pepper native to the northern coast of South America, widely cultivated across Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and the Dominican Republic. Despite belonging to the same species as habanero, it carries virtually no heat, instead offering a rich, tropical sweetness and pronounced aroma. It is an indispensable ingredient in sofrito — the aromatic cooking base foundational to Caribbean and Latin American cuisines — and is used in rice dishes, stews, and sauces.

Days to maturity

80–100 days

Plant height

45–75 cm (18–30 in)

Best use

Sofrito, Caribbean stews, sauces

Species

Capsicum chinense

Origin

Venezuela / Caribbean (northern South America)