The tabasco pepper is a popular component of many hot sauces.
The tabasco pepper plant, or Capsicum frutescens, is used to produce the McIlhenny Company's brand of tabasco sauce. Apart from the production of hot sauce, the tabasco pepper is also used fresh in culinary preparations including salads and salsas. It is also used for pickling purposes.
Description
The tabasco pepper plant is characterized by its bushy growth, similar to other varieties of Capsicum frutescens. The compact plant produces tapered and small fruits, which start out as light greenish-yellow or cream in color, and gradually turn orange and yellow before finally ripening into vibrant red. The tabasco pepper plant can reach heights of 2 to 4 feet.
Cultivation
Tabasco pepper plants can successfully grow in soil that is mildly alkaline or acidic, acidic or neutral. The plants, which thrive under full sun, require regular watering, and special care is necessary to ensure that overwatering does not occur. They can successfully be grown in containers. It takes over 80 days for the plants to reach maturity. Tabasco pepper plants can be propagated easily via woody stem cuttings and can also be started from seed. It is important to space the plants approximately 3 feet apart, to enable easy weeding and provide the peppers with sufficient space to grow.
Culinary Uses
The tabasco pepper plant is a widely popular ingredient in many different hot food items, most notably tabasco sauce, but also in various Mexican salsas. The plant is also frequently used in Caribbean and Cajun dishes. Tabasco peppers are especially hot and spicy because they contain a substance called capsaicin. The pepper is cultivated commercially in South and Central America, with its primary supplier being the country of Colombia.
Tags: pepper plant, tabasco pepper plant, also used, Capsicum frutescens, pepper plants, tabasco pepper, tabasco pepper