Red Thai Pepper
10+ Seeds/Packet · Red Thai Pepper Capsicum annuum · A staple of Southeast Asian cooking 🌏🌶, the Red Thai Pepper (also called Prik Kee Noo) is small but mighty. These slender, upright pods ripen from green 💚 to blazing red ❤️ and are p...
- Origin
- Thailand
- Seeds per packet
- 10
10+ Seeds/Packet
Red Thai Pepper
Capsicum annuum
A staple of Southeast Asian cooking 🌏🌶, the Red Thai Pepper (also called Prik Kee Noo) is small but mighty. These slender, upright pods ripen from green 💚 to blazing red ❤️ and are prized for their clean, searing heat and versatility in the kitchen. Compact plants produce prolifically, making them a must-have for both gardeners and spice lovers.
👅 Flavor Profile:
Sharp, fiery heat 🌶🔥🔥 with a fresh, grassy, slightly fruity note 🍒🌿.
🍴 Culinary Uses:
-
🍛 The backbone of Thai curries and stir-fries
-
🥗 Chop fresh into papaya salad (som tam) for authentic heat
-
🥫 Dry and grind into Thai chili flakes (Prik Bon)
-
🍲 Float whole in soups and broths for spice infusion
-
🍸 Infuse into oils, vinegars, and cocktails for a fiery kick
👨🍳 Chef’s Pitch:
Red Thai chilies are a chef’s heat dial 👨🍳🔥. Small, vibrant pods pack intense flavor and searing spice, perfect for curries, sauces, and condiments that demand authenticity. A true workhorse of Asian cuisine — fiery, colorful, and endlessly versatile.
🌱 Growing Notes:
-
🪴 Compact plants, heavy yielders
-
📏 Slender pods ~2–3 inches long
-
🎨 Ripen from green ➡️ red
-
⏱ Mid-season, continuous harvests
🌶 Scoville Heat Units (SHU): 50,000–100,000 (hot, comparable to cayenne ➡️ near habanero)
Start indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost. Germinate at 26–30 °C on a heat mat; peppers stall below 22 °C. Pot up to 10–15 cm before hardening off outside after nights stay above 12 °C.
Feed balanced through bloom, then bump potassium for fruiting. Stake taller varieties. More detail in our full Canadian growing guide.
Match the pepper to the technique: thin-walled varieties blister fast in a hot pan; thick-walled ones roast or stuff beautifully; fruit-forward ones make balanced sauces and pickles. The variety's flavour profile is your shortcut — see Choosing the right pepper for a use-case guide.
MORE LIKE THIS
