Organic Chilli Powder Standard Jar - 50g - Steenbergs details and description

Steenbergs Organic Chilli Powder - or organic ground chilli - is made by grinding hot, dried organic chillies and should not to be confused with Mexican-style chile powder which is mixed with cumin and other herbs.  There is a vast range of different types of chili where some are sold within Steenbergs specialist chilli section.  Heat levels vary from mild through to death-defyingly hot, but with Steenbergs Organic Chili Powder we take dried organic chillis that we grind and blend to go for a consistent heat of around 50,000 Scoville units, which is plenty of heat for most of us.  Add as much organic chilli or as little as you and your guests desire.

Steenbergs Organic Chilli is a blended chilli of mid spicy heat of about 50,000 SHUs - currently it's 47,600 SHUs. Chilli plants vary considerably in size, appearance and heat. Capsicum annuum is a herb or small shrub, with oval leaves and firm woody stems, growing to 1 metre high (3ft). They are usually grown as annuals as the yield of chilli fruits diminishes after the first year. The chilli pod is a many seeded red berry with a shiny skin that comes in a wide variety of shapes, colours, thickness and spicy heat.

The aroma and flavour of fresh chillis is distinctly capsicum-like, with a hint of sweetness. Their pungent bite comes from the levels of capsaicin present in the fruit; capsaicin causes the brain to release endorphins and so feelings of wellbeing. To make dry chillis, the fresh chillies are dried indoors at 20-25C (68-77F) to allow them to fully ripen, then they are dried outside on concrete floors, roofs of buildings or woven mats. At night they are heaped into piles and covered with tarpaulins to protect them, before being spread out again during the day. It takes roughly three days for the moisture content to be brought down to 10% from 70-80% when fresh; as an approximation, 100kg of fresh chillies yields 25-35kg of dried chilli spice. For more information on chilli pepper, visit Wikipedia.

With the popularity of Indian cooking, we have become very fond of chilli in our food, whether dried or via a table sauce. I am forever adding some heat from a sauce to add some spice into insipid and bland chicken, soup or vegetables. Why not also make a simple sauce by adding 3 or 4 fresh chillies or dried organic Birds Eye chilli to a bottle of sherry for a few days, then adding it to food as and when needed? Chilli powder combines well with almost all other spices and is found in recipes ranging from bhajis through to chutneys and tomato ketchup. For more inspiration, try the BBC Website.

Customer comment:

My favourite spice is Chilli, as it is so versatile, whether it is dry or fresh, and they are brill grilled or on a barbeque

Steenbergs Organic Chilli Powder is a core to Steenbergs UK range of over 400 organic spices, peppers, seasonings, herbs and flavoured sugars. It can be found in many of our retail stockists; for your nearest outlet, you can search our stockist database, ring Steenbergs on 01765 640 088 or email us at enquiries@steenbergs.co.uk.

Spice - season - savour (sustainably) with Steenbergs.