The bird's eye pepper is a small round pepper originating in Thailand and surrounding countries, though they are now popular all around the world.
SCOVILLE HEAT UNITS: 50,000-100,000 SHU
The tiny Bird’s Eye Chili originated in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, The Philippines, and surrounding countries, but they can now be found all over the world. They are presumably called Bird’s Eye Chili because of their small round shape and because they have been spread by birds, which are not affected by the heat of the peppers.
The Chiltepin pepper in North America is also known by the same name, and for the same reasons, but it is a different pepper altogether.
The Bird’s Eye are generally red at maturity, but may also be yellow, purple or black. They are very popular in cuisine from the areas mentioned above, and with heat almost similar to a habanero, they add quite a punch to many types of dishes, including pastas, soups, sauces, dips, and more.
Historically the hot pepper has been used as a natural remedy for arthritis, rheumatism, flatulence and toothache, and they may be used as an insect repellent when mixed with water.
How Hot is a Bird's Eye Chili?
Bird's eye chilis range from 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale. Compare this to a typical jalapeno pepper, which averages 5,000 SHU, and the bird's eye pepper is anywhere from 10 to 20 times hotter. That's quite a lot of heat!
Cooking with Bird's Eye Peppers
Bird's eye peppers are used extensively in Thai cuisine as well as the cuisines of many countries around Thailand. They truly pack a punch and have an excellent flavor. I've grown these pods in my garden a few times now and the plants are always productive. Because of the amount of peppers, their good level of heat, and their vibrant color, these peppers are ideal for making hot sauces, chili pastes, salsas, or for dehydrating and grinding into chili flakes or chili powders. They're also good for stir fries or adding to salads and soups.
Bird's Eye Pepper Recipes
- Khao Soi (Northern Thai Coconut Curry Soup)
- Spicy Thai Curry Chicken Soup
- Chili-Garlic Shrimp with Thai Lime Rice
- Thai Chicken Wings with Chili-Peanut Sauce
- Yellow Curry Paste
- Sambal Oelek
- Homemade Sriracha Hot Sauce
- Rujak - Indonesian Fruit Salad
- Sambal Matah
- Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)
- Nuoc Cham
See also these Types of Thai Chili Peppers
Got any questions? Feel free to contact me any time. Happy to help! -- Mike Hultquist
About Mike
Mike is the author of "The Spicy Food Lovers' Cookbook" and "The Spicy Dehydrator Cookbook". He is a chili pepper enthusiast who has run Chili Pepper Madness for many years.
Doris Vincent says
I’d like to make a pumpkin soup that calls for a bird’s eye or habaero pepper. I want the flavour but we can’t take much heat. In addition to removing the seeds what can I do?
Mike Hultquist says
Hi, Doris. You CAN scoop out the innards and seeds, but if that's too hot, you can use milder peppers instead. I'm not sure what heat level you enjoy, but you might skip the habanero and use a sweet pepper. The bird's eyes are quite hot by themselves. You can even dial back on the bird's eye and use sweeter peppers, or milder jalapenos.
David W Furstenau says
Mike ...
Where can I find a reputable seed source for the Thai version of Bird's Eye? Most I've seen look suspiciously like S American Chiltepin Pepper seeds. And when the seed vendor is in Texas... I'm even more wary.
Mike Hultquist says
David, I have a Chili Pepper Seeds Resources page that you can refer to here: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/resources/chili-seeds/
Tony Winch says
Hi Mike
I have grown a hot chilli pepper for a few years (keeping my own seed) which I was told was the variety "Skinny". Very small red fruit less than 2cm in length, attractive plant, highly productive. I have tried to identify it online to discover it's botanical name (is it annuum or baccatum) and more about it but have failed. Perhaps you can identify this one - I can send photos and/or seed if this will help.
Many thanks for any ideas you can share!
PS Another question... I grow several varieties, in the same greenhouse. Some friends say they will cross-pollinate readily, others say this rarely happens (which is true in my experience). Any comments about need to isolate varieties would also be appreciated.
Mike Hultquist says
Tony, I might be able to help if you can email some pics of the peppers. Sometimes, but not always, as there are so many varieties out there now. I can try!
Paula says
We have done this sauce twice with mostly bell peppers and a couple red jalapeños. We did it with chicken once and loved it, and again with pork tenderloin, which was also delicious. Great recipe!
Mike Hultquist says
Which recipe, Paula?
Crystar Strempke says
Thank you for this info!!Would love to get some true birdseye chile seeds any chance you’d share?
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks. Sorry, I don't have any seeds, but check my seed resources under the RESOURCES link above. Good luck!
Scott Newsom says
There are no chilies that originated in Thailand. All capsicum plants are derived from new world species.
Michele says
Hi, Where can I buy birds eye chilli peppers? The small round ones.
Mike Hultquist says
Michele, check out my Chili Pepper Plants and Seeds Resources page as a start: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/resources/.
Bradshaw Squires says
Friend gave us a variety of pepper plants, I was certain that this was an underperforming plant. Picked and smashed up a few wow, best color and flavor we have experienced from home grown peppers. One or two will do ya’, nice and spicy
Cheated Death with Thai Peppers says
Thai peppers saved my life. In 2007 my lung cancer metastasised and the only reason im alive now is because i ate 6 long red thai peppers a day with my dinner several times a month for several months. Grocery Store Thai peppers saved my life.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Wow, cheers to you. And to Thai peppers!
Herbert J Brooks says
We used to pick these peppers that grew wild in South West Georgia.
Tip says
I find it hard to find the correct chili peppers. I used to eat these in Vietnam but have not been able to find them in the U.S. When I google Bird's eye the standard longer chili pepper comes up. Is there a way to differentiate the peppers?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
The bird's eye peppers from Thailand and that area are round, where the African bird's eye peppers are the longer variety. They just have the same name.
Chris says
Native seed search in Tucson AZ has a few different varieties from areas of the southwest.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Chris.
Diane Junginger says
How do I go about getting some of these? I would like to get some seeds also. Just interested in Birds Eye chili’s only.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Diane, check out my Chili Pepper Seeds and Plants resources page. That's a good place to start: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/resources/. Good luck!