The African bird's eye pepper is a small, vibrantly colored hot pepper found in the African wild, clocking in at 175,000 Scoville Heat Units, popular in soups, hot sauces and more.
lso sometimes known as Piri Piri or Pili Pili, the African Bird’s Eye is a small chile, growing to only about 1 inch, but they pack a lot of punch. They mature to red or purple, and have a tapered shape, with a blunt point. Historically found in the African wild, it has recently been grown commercially in some parts of Africa, often to be used as pepper extract or as organic pest control.
Scoville Heat Units: 175,000 SHU
Also sometimes known as Piri Piri or Pili Pili, the African Bird’s Eye is a small chile, growing to only about 1 inch, but they pack a lot of punch. They mature to red or purple, and have a tapered shape, with a blunt point. Historically found in the African wild, it has recently been grown commercially in some parts of Africa, often to be used as pepper extract or as organic pest control.
The African Bird’s Eye is commonly used in soups, stews, hot sauces and chicken dishes, but the flavor is less interesting than other popular peppers. It is a close relative of the Tabasco pepper. It is the main ingredient in Peri Peri Sauce - get the recipe here.
Try Some of These Recipes with African Bird's Eye Peppers
Learn About These Other Hot Chili Peppers
- Devil's Tongue Pepper: All About Them
- Carolina Cayenne Chili Peppers
- Fatalii Chili Peppers
- Datil Pepper: Fiery Chili from St. Augustine
- Sugar Rush Chili Peppers
- Tshololo Chili Pepper
- Wiri Wiri Pepper
- Bahamian Chili Peppers
- Tiger Paw NR Chili Peppers
- Tabiche Chili Peppers
- Madame Jeanette Chili Peppers
- Jamaican Hot Chili Peppers
- There are even more here!
Michou says
habanero has a unique delicious flavor
Mike H. says
Indeed.
DJ says
If you can not find African Bird's Eye chilies, what are the top 3 substitutes?
Mike H. says
Thai Bird's Eye Chilies, Cayenne, Serrano...
Wazza says
Hi I have an African Birds eye chili plant that has an abundance of peppers but they are staying either a very deep purple almost black for at least the last 21/2 weeks. So green to start with then changes from the tip down to the stalk as I stated before deep purple to an almost black color, I'm leaving them for another week or so to see if they'll change to red!!! Do I pick now or wait. Any advice would be appreciated.
Area grown in plant pot, Melbourne Australia.
Paul Maddison Cape Town , South Africa says
Have been growing Bird's eye chilly for some 4 years now from seeds someone got in Thailand . Recently replanted a plant that appeared in a pot that had a bird's eye chilly bush . This has produced what looks like a Bird's eye chilly but is a lot bigger ie almost 12 cm , also pointed and thickest end has a diameter of 2,5cm. Cannot figure out where this plant comes from .
Mike Hultquist says
So interesting! Could be a variety of some sort, though Thailand has many, many different types of peppers.
Jim says
I have these growing in my garden.
Francisco Magalhães says
I used to grow them back in Angola. Sold them comercially. One of my favorite peppers and today im growing them in Portugal. Excellent with BBQ chicken or even caldo de peixe, a fish soup they make in Angola.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Francisco. Great peppers indeed.
Maria Moura says
The best frango churrasco piri-piri in Luanda I was a child and didn’t have the spicy pallet yet, but heard every adult bragging about our churrasco
I would like to know if you make your own sauce, because I’m growing these peppers as well, but in Florida. They love this weather
Lawrence says
What do they taste like? i know they are hot...I want flavor too.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
You'll get a nice fruitiness with these peppers, Lawrence, if you can get past the heat. Very good!
Maria says
One is enough to marinate, for ex chicken, along with other ingredients like garlic and lemon
You can make a sauce equivalent to Tabasco, with vinegar and salt , but gotta have the tools for fermentation
Gaz says
Put one of these babies in a carona and you have a damn tastey beer with a kick ? you're welcome!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I love it!
David D says
I ate one of these in school and I was spiced out for almost a whole hour
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Yes, these can get quite spicy!
Ken says
I have two African Peri bushes and have made hot sauces that has fabulous flavor. Quite different than other common varieties. Thanks K
Mike H says
Tony, that sounds great. Such a good pepper to cook with.
Tony says
I just made a quart of fresh pear-based hot sauce using fresh Bird's Eye peppers, ginger, fish sauce, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, black pepper and lime juice. It's surprisingly tasty and has a building heat with a sustained hang time centering on the top of the tongue. My first time making hot sauce. Can't wait until the next time!