Dried Birdseye Chiles

Sparkling hot with peppery spice, with hints of smoky fruit, a dry, hay-like grassiness, and a light herbal overtone, the tiny African Birdseye Chile makes a big impact for such a little berry. Also known by its Swahili name, pili-pili (or peri-peri, or piri-piri, depending on the influences of dialect and translation), the African Birdseye Chile, typically between ½" and 1" long, ranges between 75,000-175,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU); significantly higher than a jalapeño, not as hot as a habanero. Its burn is intense but not unmanageable, and tends to arise at the end of a bite and then linger, so you can still enjoy the smoky fruit of the pepper and notice its interplay with food.

African Birdseye Chiles were unknown in Africa until they were brought there by Portuguese traders, circa the early part of the 16^th century. These spicy little world travelers are indigenous to South America, and started their journey around the globe en route to Spain as part of the Colombian Exchange. Portuguese traders picked them up from Spain and first brought them to Brazil, and then to the eastern coast of Africa. These hearty chiles readily adapted to the heat of Africa and are commonly found growing along the southeastern coast, and as far north as Ethiopia.

Tips From Our Kitchen

African Birdseye Chiles are commonly used to make peri-peri sauce, a vinegar and lemon sauce that showcases the heat and flavor of this pepper. Vinegar loves these peppers, so pickle them for a salty-sour bite, or mix with mild peppers for a pepper relish. Because of the high heat of this chile, it’s usually used as a complementary ingredient rather than a main one. Put anywhere you’d like a shot of heat; rehydrate and mince to add to salsa, or mix into a marinade for chicken. We also carry a Birdseye Chile Powder for your convenience.

Use caution when handling these peppers because of their heat. Wear disposable gloves when handling them, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after cooking, and do not rub your eyes or nose.

There are approximately 50 African Birdseye Chiles per ounce.

Our African Birdseye Chiles are cultivated in Uganda.

This product is certified kosher.

Hungry for more information?