Roquito peppers are sweet and mildly spicy peppers from Peru with bright, vibrant color and the shape of a pearl or tear drop. Perfect for adding sweet zing to dishes.
Many dishes around the world use peppers to add spice to the flavor profile and enhance the flavor. Whether you are someone who enjoys extreme heat or simply appreciates peppery undertones in their food, you have plenty of options to choose from. There hundreds of different kinds of peppers available in the market. One of them you may come to love is the Roquito pepper.
How Hot Are Roquito Peppers?
Mostly grown in Peru, Roquito peppers are sweet chili peppers that are frequently used in Mexican cuisine and dishes across South America. While these bright peppers certainly do have a kick, they are mild for the most part. They provide a more balanced flavor profile as opposed to blinding you with the heat. Consider them a sweet pepper and not a hot pepper.
What Does A Roquito Pepper Look Like?
When whole, the peppers are small in size and are shaped like tear drops or pearls, with a wide top and a pointed bottom. They can be found in bright red and yellow colors. Chances are you have most likely eaten some on multiple occasions - you simply didn’t know what it was called.
What Are Roquito Peppers Used For?
Over the past decade, the use and popularity of Roquito peppers has increased steadily across various regions, native or otherwise. The increase in demand has encouraged many retail stores and brands to start supplying them to its growing consumers.
Roquito peppers are most commonly used in fast food like pizzas. These red peppers are a staple when it comes to pizzas in the UK in particular and are a preferred natural alternative to other preserved peppers. They are also found in sandwiches and salads, sauces, fillings, pasta, and salads.
What Do Roquito Peppers Taste Like?
Roquito peppers have a very distinct, tangy flavor that is incredibly pleasant. They add an element of crunchiness and freshness to the dish without being overpowering or too spicy to handle. They are a great addition if you want that little special ‘kick’ to get the flavor going. The bright red color of the pepper also adds to the vibrancy of the prepared dish, whether it is used whole, or in a pureed or sliced form.
Where To Buy Roquito Peppers From?
Finding Roquito peppers in locations where it is not grown locally used to be incredibly difficult just a few years ago. In fact, people would even struggle to find them online. The best you could do was find stuffed Roquito peppers in a corner at your local supermarket.
Now, however, you will find that they are easily available in stores like ASDA and Tesco, or you can order from online sources as well. While many people prefer to acquire them fresh, you can also get them in a jar, marinated in natural sugar cane brine for a sweeter and tangier taste to go along with the heat for very mildly spicy recipes.
Buy Roquito Peppers Online (Affiliate link, my friends!)
What Are Roquito Pepper Pearls?
A typical Roquito pepper has a spherical shape, making it appear something akin to a pearl. These peppers are available for purchase in their whole, unsliced forms and may be referred to as Roquito Pepper Pearls.
If you have any questions, please let me know. I'm happy to help.
Learn About These Other Sweet & Mild Chili Peppers
- Liebesapfel Chili Pepper
- HJ8 Total Eclipse Space Chili Pepper
- Shepherds Ramshorn
- Dolmalik Chili Pepper
- Giant Szegedi Chili Pepper
- Sucette de Provence Chili Pepper
- Tangerine Dream Chili Pepper
- Guindilla Pepper - All About Them
- Italian Long Hot Peppers
- Sweet Apple Pepper
- Doux des Landes Chili Pepper
- Senise Chili Peppers - All About Them
- NuMex R Naky Chili Peppers
- Sonora Chili Peppers
- Trinidad Perfume Chili Peppers
- Coronado Chili Peppers
- Espanola Chili Peppers
- Rocotillo Chili Peppers
- Elephant's Ear Chili Pepper
- Gatherer's Gold Chili Pepper
- Super Shepherd Chili Pepper
- Ancho Ranchero Peppers
- Purple Marconi Chili Pepper
- Hawaiian Sweet Hot Chili Peppers
- Frontera Sweet Peppers
- There are even more here!
Susan A. West says
I've tried searching for a source to buy seeds for the roquito pepper but have come up empty-handed. Do you know where I might be able to acquire seeds?
Mike Hultquist says
Susan, check my Resources Pages: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/resources/
Sam spade says
Can these be frozen..
Mike Hultquist says
Absolutely.
Gilbert says
What proportions of sugar to water and how long to marinate we have 4bushes of what we were told bequini peppers there are 100 dreads of the little blighters hanging around would like to use them
Mike Hultquist says
I do not have an answer to this.
Gilbert says
you state that my email would not be printed well my was
Mike Hultquist says
Gilbert, you typed your email in the comment field for some reason. I removed it.
Aiden says
I want to put these pickled Roquito pearls in my homemade Queso, but I’m not sure if I should put them in before and bake them with the queso or mix them in after, I’m worried cooking them might ruin them a little by drying them out taking away flavor. Will baking these take away any flavor and does drying out from cooking ruin them?
Mike Hultquist says
Aiden, I don't think they will dry out from baking, but if you're concerned, you can stir some in during the last minute or 2 of cooking to warm them. Enjoy.
Ron says
Can I make Pepper Jelly or Jam from the Roquito or Biquinho Peppers ?
Mike Hultquist says
Absolutely, Ron. You can make pepper jelly or pepper jam with just about any chili pepper. Here are some recipes you can refer to.
Jalapeno Jelly: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-recipes/jellies/jalapeno-jelly/
Scotch Bonnet-Peach Pepper Jam: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-recipes/jellies/scotch-bonnet-peach-pepper-jam/
Maribel says
Where can I buy them. I love them
Mike Hultquist says
You can check with your grocery store, or see my Resources pages at the top for a place to start. Good luck!
Steve says
I grow them and prepare them as I would candied jalapeños , absolutely delicious, my kids can’t get enough of them,
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Very nice!
Sorrii says
Isn't these roquito peppers same as Biquinho peppers?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Yes, I believe they are.
Jérémie says
Then I agree with you, these are extremely tasty peppers that I like a lot too!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Yes, very tasty for sure!
Jérémie says
These chili peppers look a lot like Biquinhos, is it the same variety?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I do believe so, Jeremie.