Serrano

The serrano is a thin-walled, finger-shaped green chili that ripens through yellow, orange, and red, offering a bright, crisp heat notably sharper than a jalapeño. Prized in Mexican cooking, it is the second most widely used chili in the country and is particularly suited to fresh salsas and pico de gallo due to its firm, fleshy walls. It can be eaten raw, roasted, or pickled at any color stage, and each plant can yield up to 50 fruits.

Days to maturity

70–80 days

Plant height

60–90 cm (24–36 in)

Best use

Salsa, pico de gallo, raw

Species

Capsicum annuum

Origin

Mexico (Puebla/Hidalgo highlands)