Terre Exotique Crushed Chipotle Chili Pepper (Piment Chipotle en Morceaux)

Chipotle is a jalapeño pepper that has been dried and then smoked—a staple in South American cuisine and the backbone of many meat dishes and sauces. It is also used in African and Indian cuisine. Expect fruity, nutty warmth with signature smoky depth.

How to Use

Use crushed or stirred into sauces, marinades, and spice blends. The chipotle’s sweet, nutty flavors and smoky notes also pair beautifully with grilled red meat, delicate white fish, poultry in sauce, or even chocolate desserts. Ground into a powder, it enhances nachos, tacos, burritos, homemade guacamole, and Tex-Mex blends.

Recipe Ideas

• Traditional Mexican mole (full recipe available on Terre Exotique blog)
• Chipotle shrimp tacos: add 2 tsp chipotle chili to a pan with mango, garlic, and fresh jalapeños
• Chipotle sauce: add 1 tbsp chopped chipotle pepper to your preparation
• Mexican-style mussels: add 1 tbsp chipotle chili while cooking
• Chipotle ranchero eggs: add 3 tsp chipotle chili to the tomato sauce before pouring into the pan

Handling note: avoid rubbing your eyes after handling—an alkaloid in chili can cause a burning sensation.

What Is Chipotle?

Chili peppers belong to the Solanaceae family (botanical name Capsicum annuum), like other chilies, tomatoes, and potatoes. Chipotle (also called jalapeño) originated in the Mexican state of Veracruz and is now cultivated primarily in Chihuahua, Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Sinaloa, and also in the southern United States (Texas and New Mexico). Its name comes from the Nahuatl word “Chilpoctli”: “Chil” means chili pepper and “poctli” means to smoke.

Once dried and smoked over pecan wood, this small brown chili with a strong, fiery character can perfume olive oils (maceration), sauces, vinegars, homemade hot sauce, or even a simple dish of beans and lentils.

A History Spanning Over 9000 Years

Civilizations have used chili peppers in cooking for around 9,000 years, including the Aztecs, who used them in “Xocolatl”— a cacao-based drink with vanilla and spices. Christopher Columbus was the first European known to encounter chili peppers during his voyage to the Americas, more specifically Hispaniola in the Caribbean. Over time, Europeans adopted chili as a flavorful seasoning, especially as an alternative when Asian spices were scarce.

Additional Information

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place. Keep sealed to preserve aroma.