Biquinho
Capsicum chinense · Brazilian mild pepper
The teardrop pepper. Little, mild, sweet-fruity, and beautiful in clusters. Brazil's favorite mild chile — eaten by the bowlful.
Biquinho means 'little beak' in Portuguese — named for the pointed tip of its teardrop-shaped fruit. It is Brazil's most beloved mild chile, eaten fresh by the handful, pickled in brine and served alongside cheese and charcuterie, and used in light sauces where the fruity sweetness of Capsicum chinense genetics comes through without the heat of its habanero relatives.
The plants are compact and covered in pendant clusters of small, jewel-like fruits — red or yellow — that hang from the branches in ornamental abundance. The flavor is distinctly Capsicum chinense: fruity, floral, with a sweetness that sets it apart from the annuum peppers elsewhere in this collection.
The traditional Brazilian preparation is pickled in light brine with garlic and served alongside queijo coalho or other firm cheeses. Fresh, they are eaten whole as snacks. The fruity sweetness makes them excellent in light vinaigrette-based sauces, as a garnish for ceviche, and stuffed with soft cheese. The mild heat means everyone can eat them.
Why This Plant Is Here
Biquinho has a specific role in this year's garden: flavor, beauty, pollinator support, story, or seasonal production.