Wednesday, October 12, 2011

PIMENTA BIQUINHO / THE BRAZILIAN BEAK CHILI






Pimenta biquinho is a Brazilian aromatic chili. Its cientific name is Capsicum Chinese, and it is from the Solanacea family, the same family of the tomatoes, bell peppers, and eggplant. Accordingly to the Scoville scale which measures the spicy heat on chili peppers, biquinho chili is considered to have zero heat. Although it is not hot, pimenta biquinho has chili flavors and aroma. A single bite is a party in your mouth! It is delicious, intriguing, and has a beautiful color and shape. It is so popular in Brazilian cuisine right now. It is cultivated in the states of Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo, and Goias, but it is used throughout the country. You can buy it natural or in a jar conserved in water and vinegar. Chefs and customers are loving it. To me it is for sure a gift from nature. It is used to make jelly, sauces to accompany meats , it is used as an appetizer by itself, and as a delicious, colorful , and beautiful garnish.. Its name means little beak chili because of its shape, bird beak like. It is an awesome ingredient!  I LOVE IT!

TIP:  A friend of mine found it in a world market in Miami. I always bring them from Brazil, but hopefully I can find it here in Missouri soon.

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