Chipotle Meco Chile Powder (chi-POHT-lay), Capsicum annuum, measure 2,500 – 10,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). The word comes from the Nahuatl words chilpoctli or xipoctli, meaning "smoked chile pepper." Nahuatl language is the language of the Aztecs, the South American people dominated the central region of Mexico and founded an empire in the 15th-16th centuries.

Chipotles have become quite popular in the United States over the last several decades, particularly in Tex-Mex dishes. Chipotles remain a popular part of Mexican cuisine as well, being incorporated into Mexican dishes with a variety of other chiles.

Chipotle Meco Chiles are from jalapenos left on the plant long enough to ripen and turn red fully. At this point, they are harvested and smoked dried for several days. Of the two types of Chipotle Chiles, Morita and Meco, the Chipotle Mecos are dried for twice as long as the Morita chiles.

Chipotle Meco Chiles are also referred to as chile Meco.

Flavor Profile

Chipotle Meco Powder is deeply smoky, mildly spicy, and has a grassy fruitiness.

Heat Level

Chipotle Meco Chile Powder is considered a medium heat chile powder and has a rating of 5,000-10,000 SHU, or Scoville Heat Units.

How to Use

Chipotle Meco Chile Powder tends to hold up better against strong flavors than Chipotle Morita Chile Powder would. Mecos are the preferred chipotle for Mexican chefs, so this powder fits in nicely when you are making Mexican dishes. It's good in enchiladas, mole sauce, adobo-based marinades, and black bean-based dishes.

Chipotles pair well with beef, chicken, and pork chops.