Aji Mochero

Species: Capsicum chinense | Origin: Peru | Pungency: Very Hot

Aji Mochero, also known as 'Limón', is a very old heirloom variety from the Moche Valley in the La Libertad region of Northwestern Peru. The plants have a compact spreading growth habit and are perhaps one of the most prolific Capsicum chinense varieties there is. They have a small amount of silver pubescens-like fur on the stems and the under leaf, and the conical-shaped chillies start green and ripen to bright yellow. Aji Mochero chillies have a strong fruity aroma and a citrus-like flavour and are used in Peruvian cuisine for spicing up sauces, shambar and seafood dishes, such as burst crab and Trujillo cebiche.

Some people confuse Aji Mochero/Limón (C. chinense) with another yellow fruiting variety of Peruvian origin called 'Aji Lemon', confusingly also known as 'Aji Limón', which is a variety belonging to the Capsicum baccatum species. The confusion was most likely added to when some seed catalogues began labelling Aji Lemon as Aji Limón. Aji Lemon chillies are not as hot as Aji Mochero chillies and both varieties have very different flavours.

Page published on: 30th November 2019