Hontaka Pepper

I’ve seen the Hontonka peppers and Santaka pepper names used interchangeably, sometimes both are just called Japones Peppers. I am unclear if both might be the same pepper. They do look very similar. These plants also look a lot like ‘Thai Hots’.  The photos shown here were photographed at the New Mexico Chile Pepper Institute Garden.

FLAVOR: It has an intense, simple, heat. They do not have the complex flavor profile of some peppers, so their pure simple heat is more direct and easily balanced with other bold spices.

USES: It is popular in Asian cuisine and can be found in many Chinese (especially Hunan and Sichuan), Japanese, and southeastern Asian dishes. The dried Santaka pepper is used in sauces, chutneys, salsas, sautéed eggplants, and stir-fries. It blends well in Thai curries with cilantro, garlic, basil, and lemongrass; or in rich peanut sauces.