The Lemon Drop pepper, also known as Aji Lemon or Aji Limon, is a Peruvian heirloom chili known for its vibrant yellow color and distinctive citrus flavor. A high-yielding plant, it produces numerous thin-walled peppers with a sharp, medium-hot heat.
Appearance
- Color: The peppers ripen from green to a bright, clear lemon-yellow.
- Size and shape: Typically 2 to 3 inches long, the peppers are conical and have a tapered, slightly crinkled point.
- Plant: The plant is a member of the Capsicum baccatum species and is highly productive, sometimes yielding over 100 peppers in a single season.
Flavor and heat
- Taste: The flavor is described as bright, tangy, and zesty, with pronounced citrus notes reminiscent of lemon and lime. When cooked, its citrus-spice flavor becomes smoother.
- Heat level: On the Scoville scale, the Lemon Drop pepper has a medium-hot rating, typically ranging from 15,000 to 50,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). This is hotter than a jalapeño but milder than a habanero.
- Spiciness profile: The heat is often described as a "sharp" or "fiery" kick that is intense but relatively short-lived.
These seeds were harvested from plants grown in a controlled environment and isolation to preserve genetics.