Piquillo Basque Sweet Pepper - RARE heirloom 20 seeds

The Piquillo Pepper (Capsicum annuum) is a traditional Spanish heirloom variety originating from Northern Spain, particularly the Navarra region around Lodosa and the Basque area. Its name means "little beak" in Spanish, referring to the pepper's distinctive pointed, triangular shape. It is widely considered an heirloom due to its long history of open-pollinated cultivation passed down through generations.

Shape and Size: Conical, heart-shaped or triangular pods, typically 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) long, tapering to a point.
Color: Ripens from green to vibrant fire-red.
Flavor: Sweet and tangy with smoky undertones (especially when roasted), very mild heat (0-500 to 1,000 Scoville Heat Units—essentially like a sweet bell pepper with a faint whisper of spice).
Texture: Thick flesh and skin, making them ideal for roasting without falling apart.
Plant: Compact bushes, 18-36 inches tall, productive and tolerant of heat/sun.

Culinary Uses
Piquillo peppers are a staple in Spanish cuisine, especially tapas. They are traditionally hand-harvested, fire-roasted over embers (often beech or oak wood), peeled, and jarred—enhancing their natural smoky sweetness. Popular preparations include:

Stuffing with cheese (e.g., goat cheese), tuna, crab, or meat (like cod brandade).
In salads, sauces, or as a garnish.

They hold a Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO) status for those grown in Lodosa, Spain, though similar varieties are now cultivated elsewhere (e.g., Peru for export).

Grown in Tennessee.

Planting Guide included. Ships in padded envelope.

Visit heirseeds.com to view our full inventory of rare and exotic heirloom seeds.