Tondo Calabrese Pepper

🍅 Tondo Calabrese Pepper

Capsicum annuum

The pride of Southern Italy 🇮🇹! The Tondo Calabrese Pepper (also known as Peperone Tondo Calabrese) is a traditional round chili from Calabria, where it’s famously used for stuffing, drying, and preserving. These plump, cherry-sized peppers ripen to a deep, glossy red ❤️, with thick flesh and a  mild, spicy kick 🌶🔥.

👅 Flavor Profile:
Fruity 🍒, robust 🌿, and  mildly spicy 🌶🔥 with a smoky-sweet undertone when dried.

🍴 Culinary Uses:

• 🧀 Stuff with tuna, anchovy, or cheese for the classic Italian appetizer

• 🫙 Preserve in oil for an authentic Calabrian delicacy

• 🔥 Dry and crush into traditional Calabrian chili flakes

• 🍝 Toss into pasta sauces, pizzas, and rustic stews

• 🥖 Pair with cured meats and cheeses on antipasto boards

👨🍳 Chef’s Pitch:
Tondo Calabrese peppers are Italy in a bite 👨🍳🇮🇹. Perfect spheres that stuff beautifully, dry into world-class chili flakes, and shine as a preserved delicacy. A chef’s go-to for authentic Calabrian flavor — rustic, bold, and unforgettable.

🌱 Growing Notes:

• 🪴 Compact plants, heavy yields

• 🎨 Fruits ripen from green ➡️ deep red

• 📏 Round peppers, ~1–2 inches in diameter

• ⏱ Mid-season maturity

🌶 Scoville Heat Units (SHU): SHU 1,500 (mild)