Ají Limón / Lemon Drop
Hot
citrus · tropical-fruit · tangy · fresh match · similar heat
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Research-verified
Ají amarillo
Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum
Dried, it’s Ají mirasol
A golden-yellow Peruvian chile prized for bright fruit, depth, and medium-hot cooking value.
Hot
30,000–50,000 SHU
- sweet
- tangy
- cited
- Flavor
- Fruity, golden, rounded.
- Origin
- Peru
- Best uses
- Peruvian sauces, stews, pastes.
- Days to maturity
- 90-120
How the heat plays out
Early estimateBuilds gradually, climbs to a high peak, and lingers a while, felt across the mouth. Fruity, rounded
In the kitchen
- Fresh
- Fresh or paste use delivers color and fruit.
- Dried
- Can be dried and blended.
- Roasted
- Works in sautés and sauces.
- Fermented
- Useful in blended sauces.
Substitutes
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Sources
- Guía de oportunidades de mercado para los ajíes nativos de Perú Bioversity International / CGIAR
- Agro-morphological Characteristics and Sensory Evaluation of Native Peruvian Chili Peppers Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA)
- Pasting and Saucing Chile Peppers: Exploring Flavors from New Mexico to Peru (November 2025) Robyn Barker / UC Master Food Preserver Program, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources