Tabago Seasoning Peppers
The Tabago Seasoning Pepper, also known as Tobago Seasoning or Trinidad Seasoning, is a mild Capsicum chinense variety from the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago. It is celebrated for its intense, fruity flavor and aroma, typical ...
- Origin
- Trinidad
- Heat: Very mild, typically ranging from 500 to 1,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), though some seed companies report ranges of 10,000–15,500 SHU. The low heat is ideal for dishes that require flavor without intense spice.
- Origin: An heirloom variety from the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago.
- Appearance: Small, elongated, tapered, and sometimes slightly wrinkled pods, about 2–3 inches long. They ripen from light green to orange and finally to red.
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Culinary Uses:
- Seasoning: Primarily used as a "seasoning pepper" in Caribbean cuisine.
- Jerk Seasoning: A traditional ingredient in Caribbean jerk seasoning.
- Versatile applications: The fruity flavor makes it a fantastic addition to sauces, marinades, fresh salsas, soups, and stews.
- Substitutions: A popular substitute for bell peppers when a deeper, fruitier flavor is desired in a mild dish.
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.
