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Pepper Spotlight: Aji Cachucha

  • Writer: turtlevalleyfarmwi
    turtlevalleyfarmwi
  • Dec 25, 2025
  • 2 min read

The pepper of many names! Aji cachucha, aji dulce, ajicito, or seasoning pepper, this pepper has aliases like a secret agent.


This pepper is popular in Central American and the Caribbean. A fact reflected in the many names this pepper holds. While aji means pepper, dulce means sweet and cachucha means cap in Spanish.


These peppers are small and sort of hat shaped, like a thin saucer/beret shape. They can range from a bright red to a lighter yellow-green. Or, can look like a mini pumpkin.



Flavor Profile

A relative of the habanero but much less spicy. Has a thick and crunchy flesh. These have a sweet and fruity flavor with a little hint of smokiness.


Scoville Heat Units (SHU) or Spiciness

This mini pumpkin shaped pepper comes in around 100-500 SHU, though some say up to 1,000. That's similar to a banana pepper! Mild but packed with flavor.


Comparison: Jalapeños usually range from 2,500 to 8,000 SHU, so a aji cachucha is quite a bit more mild.


How do I use this pepper?

Aji cachucha is incredibly versatile and can be used fresh or dried. It is one of the main components in Puerto Rican sofrito (a more complex, Latin American type of mirepoix) .


  • Salsas and sauces: Dice up some cachucha to make a delicious sofrito as a soup or sauce base.

  • Powder and flakes: Dry and grind the peppers to use them in recipes where you want some added flavor without too much heat. We're thinking in a homemade enchilada sauce, on eggs or as part of a marinade for chicken.


Anywhere you use chili powder, try substituting some dried aji cachucha for a less intense heat.




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