7 Pot

General information: The 7 pot chillies (sometimes also called 7 pod) come from the Caribbean, more precisely from Trinidad/Tobago and belong to the species Capsicum chinense. Their name refers to the saying that one pod is hot enough to spice 7 pots of stew. In fact, they are immensely hot (sometimes over 1 million SHU), similar to Bhut Jolokia, but they have a slightly fruity and nutty flavour, like other Caribbean peppers. Some also say the flavour is reminiscent of apricots. They are similar in shape to habaneros, but have a rough surface and can grow quite a bit larger. They come in all kinds of colours (red, white, brown, yellow, burgundy...) and different versions, which also originate from the Caribbean: Douglah (meaning a person who has African and Indian roots in the Trinidadian language), Jonah, Brainstrain (the chillies appear be somewhat reminiscent of a brain), Primo (the nickname of the breeder Troy Primeaux), Chaguanas and Barrackpore (after their places of origin in Trinidad) and some more. They often resemble the Trinidad Scorpion or the Carolina Reaper chilli in shape and surface texture.

Fun fact: In Trinidad, 7 pot peppers are used in military grade tear gas and marine paint, which prevents barnacles.

Growth habit: The 7 pot plants grow bushy and quite compact, reaching heights between 50 and 80 cm. The white flowers bear the lampion-shaped, slightly ridged fruits, which usually have a rough surface. They grow to about 5 x 7 cm, but this can vary depending on the variety.

Growing instructions: As the 7 pot seeds like it warm when germinating (germination temperature between 24° and 30°C), a small indoor greenhouse is appropriate as an aid. A little patience is also required, as it can take up to 3 weeks for the seedlings to appear. The young plants need a very bright place, a plant lamp is appropriate here. The grown plants need a fresh, well-fertilised, well-drained soil and do not tolerate waterlogging. They should be placed in a fully sunny, sheltered spot with at least 6 hours of sunlight, preferably more. In addition, the chillies have quite a long ripening time, so they should be grown in a pot so that they can be brought indoors when the outside temperature drops below 12°C during the day. The chillies can then still ripen indoors. For overwintering, cut back by 20 cm after harvesting and place in a light place at a minimum of 15°C.

Culinary: Due to the pepper`s thin fruit walls, the 7 Pot chillies are well-suited for drying and grinding into powder. They are also very tasty in sauces and salsas, especially in combination with tropical fruits such as mangoes. Please be sure to wear gloves when processing the pods.