VarietiesC. frutescensSuperhotPiri Piri
SuperhotC. frutescensMozambique

Piri Piri

Peri-Peri · Pili Pili · African Bird's Eye · African Devil

175,000Scoville Heat Units

Heat context

Carolina Reaper
Ghost Pepper
Habanero
Piri Piri
Botanical data
Heat (SHU)175,000
SpeciesC. frutescens
OriginMozambique
Days to mature85
Plant height45–120 cm
Wall thicknessThin
Ripe colourred
YieldHeavy
Growth habitBush
Germination7-14
FoliageGreen
Unripe colourgreen

About this variety

Piri Piri is a fiery African chilli that became famous through Portuguese colonization and cuisine, particularly in Mozambique and Angola. These small, upward-pointing peppers deliver intense heat with a bright, citrusy undertone that makes them ideal for the famous piri piri sauce used on grilled chicken and seafood. The compact, bushy plants are prolific producers, yielding dozens of thin-walled pods that dry exceptionally well for long-term storage.

Flavour profile

citrusysharpbrightclean heatslightly fruity
Culinary scores
Sauce
10/10
Drying
9/10
Pickling
6/10

Culinary uses

Essential for traditional Portuguese-African piri piri sauce, marinades for grilled chicken and prawns, infused oils, hot sauces, and dried flakes. The peppers are often blended with garlic, lemon, and oil to create the iconic piri piri marinade.

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Quick reference

Heat175,000 SHU
SpeciesC. frutescens
OriginMozambique
Days to ripe85
Ripe colourred
Best forSauce, Drying
Data confidence: 4/5. Sourced from community submissions and verified references. Suggest a correction