A bird planted this like 3 years ago. I now have 4 of these plants growing around the yard, it comes back every year. iNaturalist says chili pepper. Picture this says capsicum annum. My friend came over and asked if it was chili pequin.
How do I feel comfortable eating this? I don’t want to poison myself.
by jenderfleur
27 Comments
That is Chile pequin… totally edible.
It is. If you want to learn how to be certain you’ll need to learn plant identification. Which is a skill that requires more effort than I’m capable of giving in a Reddit comment, lol.
100% chile pequin. Take a tiny bite out of the pepper and spit it out. You’ll know immediately. Wash and put the rest in some vinegar and you got the beginnings of a nice hot sauce.
This isn’t medical advice but if I was foraging and knew I had reliable access to bathroom facilities in the next few hours to deal with the consequences of overindulging on biochemical weapons, I’d be happily chomping away while insisting that they’re delicious through my tears. I do it every day from the bushes in my backyard, I just picked a bunch of these this morning.
Those look like piquin to me and I’d hesitate zero seconds before eating them, but my expertise and qualifications is more or less confined to “hasn’t killed himself by eating the wrong berry, fruit or pepper yet, which may be due to sleeping in a Holiday Inn Express last night or knowing his peppers.”
If you’re super concerned and want to be a little more sure, it’s a little masochistic but cut one open, rub the oils on your hands, and touch a sensitive area on your body. Like… Very gently, discreetly and as minimally as possible since mostly I’m suggesting you make your eyes or privates burn with the heat of 1,000 suns from the hot pepper oil on your hands to ensure that it is hot pepper before you put it in your mouth.
If you put one in your mouth, you will very quickly know that it is a chille pequin. If it isn’t the most delightfully sharp and bold spiciness you’ve ever tasted, then spit it out.
100% Chile Pequin
Looks like a chiltepin pepper. If you bite one and spit it out it should have a spiciness.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsicum_annuum_var._glabriusculum
Being very cautious about eating random plants is a good call, generally, tho.
yeah that’s undoubtedly a chile pequin aka bird pepper since they’re typically the ones that plant them. old timers would put the chiles in olive oil to give their meals a little extra kick.
https://www.foragingtexas.com/search?q=Pequin&m=1
I’ve really enjoyed taking Texas foraging classes with Mark, and this is his website ^
To make *sure* you ID at least 3+ signature characteristics, like those listed. If you want to learn more, he also has an instagram and posts videos about the terminology (ex. for leaf differences like pinnate, etc).
Pretty sure it’s chile piquin. My dad always had a couple when I was a kid, but it was so spicy I don’t think I ever tried any of the salsas he made with it. A bird hasn’t blessed my yard with one yet so you’re lucky!
It’s definitely edible. It’s a pepper, either pequin or tepin . Be warned it’s spicy.
Can I get a cutting?
You’re good to go here. I had a bunch of these growing wild in my backyard in Lakeway. 100% chile pequin.
I miss them dearly.
I also have one in my backyard, it’s been there since I was a kid in the 90s.
Most responses seem to be reassuring you that this is what you think it is. You asked how you can be sure, and if your mind works like mine, the reassurances are great but they don’t tell you how YOU can know for sure.
I’m not a forager but my sister is and I’ve played this game with her before, so I’ll tell you what I have seen her do. Look up what plants can be confused with chili pequin. Look at what the distinguishing features are of pequin vs the look alikes. What is leaf shape? Is there a smell you can look (er…smell) for? What does the sap look like when you break the stem? What is the leaf texture on the top/bottom of the leaf? Are there any traits that boost or undermine your confidence that this is pequin (eg, ridged stem, fuzzy leaves/stem, berry characteristics like seeds or flesh color etc). Play this game and you will not only have fun learning, but you’ll be more confident in eating these berries and sharing them with others.
Have fun!
They’re kinda smiling at you. Eat them! (Chile pequin)
def a chile pequin/chile tepin!
also, i’m jealous and i hate you
Thanks y’all! I don’t eat spicy, my husband does, but I don’t want to poison him either. Eating poison and eating spicy are around the same for me so thanks for the reassurances!
For those who recommended foraging tools, may the goddess of nature bless you forever!
Those who want some for planting purposes, DM me. I’ll be your bird.
As a chile pequin fan who has been growing them a few years, that is 100% a chile pequin donated by a wonderful bird poo
Those appear to be Chilitepins, not Pequins. They are hotter. The pequins are more pointed. Here is a link that helps you [visually distinguis](https://gardenvarietylife.com/chile-pequins/)h them. I have 4 bushes of them in my yard; they have self-sewn themselves ever since I bought a small plant at a nursery about 15 years ago. Hope this helps.
Yeah, put one in your mouth and chew. I lasted about 2 seconds before I spit it out from the heat. Completely edible, though.
Little cherries. Just pop a few in your mouth and enjoy!
Oh yeah… they’re good!!!
“chili pepper” is a generic name.
“capsicum annum” is the species name for all sweet and chile peppers.
Chili pequin appears to be be variety you have there.
And it’s totally safe to eat.
Chiltepin
1000000000000% chile pequin
I gather up my chile pequins in a bowl just like you’ve done and I let them dry. I crush them with a molcajete to make my own crushed red pepper for pizza!