I spent all of 2018 on the pacific coast of Costa Rica. At one point I was tromping through the very green jungle when a spot of red caught my eye. I thought I was hallucinating. So I stopped in my tracks and took a longer harder look from a distance and asked myself one simple question. Is that a pepper? I thought there was no possible way. How could a pepper plant be out here? As I got closer the realization became stronger, it, indeed, was a pepper.
Two ripe, bright red pods dangled from the spindly plant like two dangly round things. I gawked like a pepper head smitten. I decided to pick them. Surely no one would miss them. Did anyone other than myself even know they existed? I snatched the pods from the plant. One went into my backpack and the other into my mouth. I was certain it would be hot, just a gut feeling. To my surprise and relief it was sweet with a lovely pepper flavor. I was thrilled.
I knew I had to smuggle the seeds back to the States and grow them out in my garden. I did that. I even lied on the customs form when they asked if I was carrying any fruits, vegetables or seeds. They had no clue what I had in my possession. I popped the seeds as soon as I made it back on American soil. I have no idea what it is but based on the flowers my guess is either an Annuum or Chinense. The pods look a little different from the ones I got the seeds from. These ones are a little blockier. The first one has started ripening and it is bright orange. I cant wait to taste them and see if they are as delightful as the ones I found in the jungle. I took some pictures this morning of the plant with the ripe pod for you all to see. Other than my chocolate ghost these are my slowest variety. They are just now starting to produce. The rest of my plants have been giving me ripe pods for at least the past month.
Two ripe, bright red pods dangled from the spindly plant like two dangly round things. I gawked like a pepper head smitten. I decided to pick them. Surely no one would miss them. Did anyone other than myself even know they existed? I snatched the pods from the plant. One went into my backpack and the other into my mouth. I was certain it would be hot, just a gut feeling. To my surprise and relief it was sweet with a lovely pepper flavor. I was thrilled.
I knew I had to smuggle the seeds back to the States and grow them out in my garden. I did that. I even lied on the customs form when they asked if I was carrying any fruits, vegetables or seeds. They had no clue what I had in my possession. I popped the seeds as soon as I made it back on American soil. I have no idea what it is but based on the flowers my guess is either an Annuum or Chinense. The pods look a little different from the ones I got the seeds from. These ones are a little blockier. The first one has started ripening and it is bright orange. I cant wait to taste them and see if they are as delightful as the ones I found in the jungle. I took some pictures this morning of the plant with the ripe pod for you all to see. Other than my chocolate ghost these are my slowest variety. They are just now starting to produce. The rest of my plants have been giving me ripe pods for at least the past month.
