What is a Datil Pepper?
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A datil pepper is a fruit of the genus Capsicum, which also includes bell peppers, jalapenos, habaneros and all other fruits known as peppers. The datil pepper in unique because it is extremely hot, similar to a habanero, but also sweet and fruity. The name of the datil pepper is derived from the Spanish for "date," another type of fruit.
The datil pepper is yellow, elongated in shape, and between one and three inches (2.5-7.6 cm) in length. If grown outside, datil pepper must be planted when there is no frost. The plant will reach maturity in about five months. The datil pepper's largest natural threat is a parasite known as the pepper weevil.
The datil pepper has been cultivated by the Minorcan community living in the city of St. Augustine, Florida since the 18th century. It has been speculated that the peppers originated in the Caribbean, although they only grow in Florida today. Fresh datil peppers and seeds can be very difficult to find outside of the St. Augustine area, although the plant can theoretically be grown anywhere indoors. Typically, the fruit and seeds are available only from datil gardeners. However, the bottled hot sauces made from the pepper may be found at specialty stores around the country or through online vendors.
The datil pepper is most commonly used to make a sweet but intense hot sauce, and recipes vary widely. One popular sauce is made with tomato paste and other sweet ingredients including brown sugar and honey. Datil pepper is also used in such St. Augustine specialties as clam chowder, pepper relish, and chicken or sausage pilau.
The datil pepper is a member of the chinense species of Capsicum, which includes some of the hottest of all peppers, such as habanero and Scotch Bonnet. All of these pepper varieties have Scoville measurements between 100,000 and 300,000. Consequently, the datil pepper may be dangerous if eaten raw, with such possible effects as dizziness, diarrhea, heartburn, and a numb or intense burning sensation in the mouth. Care should also be taken when preparing recipes with datil pepper not to transfer any of the peppers' juices to the mucous membranes, particularly the eyes.
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9
I purchased two datil pepper plants while in St. Augustine. They are bearing now (August). I live in South Carolina. Can I keep them in a greenhouse in winter? What color should they be when I pickle them for "pepper sauce?"
I am a native of St. Aug. and remember my father eating datil peppers whole. He had an asbestos mouth. --Barbara Courtney Thomas - anon42272
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I have a beautiful datil pepper plant loaded down with peppers. Now what do I do with them? Is there a sauce that I can make? - anon39137
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How tall will a datil pepper plant be at maturity?
- anon35339
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And they are hotter deep orange! - anon18700
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I planted mine in March, and they started producing in about a month, but keep in mind they were potted plants in a 3" pot when I got them. I used Miracle Gro,and only had trouble from the hurricane, because the plants were so bushy they caught alot of wind. You don't need to snip typical meristems on these plants; they bush well on there own. --- Rich in St Augustine - anon18699
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are datil peppers hotter when they are green or when they turn orange? - anon15168
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Datil Peppers should begin producing around 3-4 months after planting. It's important that they get plenty of sunlight, and a relatively large amount of phosphorus to produce well. Also, you need to prune them back so that they bush out...You don't want them growing spindly. - anon5256
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There is much mythology about the datil pepper in St. Augustine, Florida. In truth, it was brought to St. Augustine about 1880 from Chile, in South America, by a jelly manufacturer named S.B. Valls. I have never seen any reference to the pepper being in St. Augustine before that time. It was adopted by the local Minorcan residents as a part of their cuisine, but if you go to the island of Minorca and ask about datil peppers, i think you will draw a big blank. Its prominence is one of the American Minorcan contributions to cuisine, not something that was brought with them (nor picked up along the way). You will be making a contribution if you cast a skeptical eye upon most "received" versions of datil pepper history. "Datil" is not only a Spanish word for "date" (which does not at all resemble a datil pepper). It is also a word in the Quechua language from the western side of South America (the language of the Inca Empire, and the most widely spoken native language in South America).
--David Nolan, St. Augustine, Florida - anon4107
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how long before i see peppers on my datil pepper plant? - angnowa
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Written by
Niki Foster
Last Modified: 20 August 2009
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