Horti Tops® Baby Sweet Pepper Tinkerbell F1

Baby Sweet Pepper Tinkerbell F1 (Capsicum annuum)

A World of Flavor and Heat

Peppers offer an incredible range from sweet bell peppers with zero heat to fiery cayenne that sets your mouth on fire. All are the same species – just centuries of selective breeding for different characteristics. This means you can find exactly the right pepper for your taste and your dishes.

The heat in peppers comes from capsaicin, concentrated in the white ribs inside the pepper, not in the seeds as commonly believed. To reduce heat, remove the ribs carefully. To maximize heat, include them.

Roasting Peppers: A Game Changer

Roasting transforms peppers from crisp vegetables into silky, sweet, smoky delicacies:

Method: Place whole peppers directly over a gas flame or under a broiler. Turn frequently until the skin is completely blackened and blistered. Place in a covered bowl for 10 minutes to steam. The charred skin will slip off easily, revealing tender, sweet flesh.

Uses: Roasted peppers are magnificent in sandwiches, on pizza, blended into romesco sauce, or simply drizzled with olive oil and served with crusty bread. They freeze beautifully – roast a large batch when your plants are producing abundantly.

Health Benefits of Peppers

A single bell pepper contains more than 100% of your daily vitamin C needs – more than an orange. Red peppers have the most, as they are simply fully ripened green peppers. The longer peppers stay on the plant, the more nutrients they develop.

The capsaicin in hot peppers has remarkable health properties. It increases metabolism and calorie burning. It triggers endorphin release, creating that addictive “pepper high.” Applied topically, it depletes pain-signaling chemicals, which is why capsaicin creams are used for arthritis and nerve pain.

Understanding the Scoville Scale

The Scoville scale measures pepper heat in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Bell peppers rate 0 SHU. Jalapeños measure 2,500-8,000 SHU. Cayenne hits 30,000-50,000 SHU. The Carolina Reaper, currently the world hottest pepper, exceeds 2,000,000 SHU – handle with extreme caution!

Growing Baby Sweet Pepper Tinkerbell F1