Chipotle Pepper

A chipotle pepper is a ripe jalapeño that has been smoked and dried, with a deep reddish-brown color and leathery skin. It delivers smoky, earthy flavor with medium to high heat and a hint of cocoa-like sweetness; use whole to infuse stews and braises, rehydrate and puree into sauces and salsas, or grind into a rub, and it’s sold either whole or ground.

Developed in Mexico to preserve mature jalapeños via slow wood smoke drying, chipotles are staples in regional Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking. They feature in moles, adobos, and barbacoa, and production now spans Mexico and the United States.