Cherry Peppers: All About Them

Cherry peppers are small, round chili peppers with vibrant red flesh and spicy heat on par with the jalapeno pepper. Learn all about them.

5,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
Capsicum Chinense

Peppers are known to make any meal spicy, whether they’re large or tiny. Small peppers are found in almost every continent across the globe. Mostly found in the American continent and Mexico, cherry peppers are fairly spicy among small peppers.

What are Cherry Peppers?

The cherry pepper can be used as a substitute for pimento peppers. However, the two should not be confused both in appearance and taste. The peppers are round, whereas pimento peppers are grown into a heart shape, and these peppers offer a greater level of heat.

You may also see these peppers referred to as cherry bombs.

Are Cherry Peppers spicy?

Cherry peppers may resemble cherries, but they are somewhat spicy. They offer a relatively high spicy taste for their tiny size. With just a hint of sweetness, these peppers offer heat similar to the average jalapeno pepper, going up to 5000 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale.

What do Cherry Peppers taste like?

While pimento peppers and cherry chili peppers both appear strikingly similar, there is a subtle difference in taste. You’ll find two types of cherry peppers, one with a crisper outer layer while the other will be softer. On the inside, both will offer the same level of juiciness. It’s both crunchy and juicy at the same time.

You'll often find them as a flavoring to cured meats, or pickled, where they are great for topping sandwiches.

How do you use Cherry Peppers?

Hot cherry peppers can be added to a variety of dishes. You can use them as toppings on cooked dishes or add them to the frying pan while you’re cooking. They provide great flexibility as you can control the level of spice you want.

For your peppers to be less spicy, slice them and remove the inner membrane to tone down the hotness and spice. Other than direct toppings, you can use also mince these peppers for general cooking.

You'll find these peppers in red and green, with green being the unripened harvest. They are still edible and offer a nice, spicy crunch.

Where to buy Cherry Peppers?

These peppers can be found in supermarkets, both online and offline. However, you are more likely to get their pickled versions, packed in jars, as opposed to raw and fresh.

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