Facing heaven pepper

The facing heaven pepper (Chinese name: 朝天椒; pinyin: cháotiānjiāo, also known as 指天椒; pinyin: zhǐtiānjiāo meaning "skyward-pointing chili pepper") is a type of cone pepper, a group of cone-shaped, medium-hot chili peppers within the species Capsicum annuum.^[1] The species is native to Central America.^[2]

A conic cultivar of Capsicum annuum called 'Chao Tian Jiao'

Taxonomy

The facing heaven pepper is type of cone pepper, a group within the species Capsicum annuum. Cone peppers are sometimes listed as a botanical variety, as Capsicum annuum var. conoides. This variety is not an accepted name in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility or Kew's Plants of the World Online.^[3][4] Cone peppers are now called the Capsicum annuum "conoides group".^[1][5]

Description

Dried facing heaven chilies

Facing heaven peppers are identified by the conical shape and dark red color of mature fruit.^[6]

Uses

Historic sources described the fruits as "extremely spicy" though the flavor has likely changed over time.^[7]