The chiltepin is a wild Sonoran chile pepper the size of a peppercorn, harvested in fall from desert shrubs and used dried as a sharp, smoky seasoning across borderlands cooking.

The chiltepin (Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum) is the only wild chile native to the United States, growing on small shrubs throughout the Sonoran Desert south of Tucson. The Tohono O'odham and Pascua Yaqui have harvested chiltepin for centuries, and the pepper is protected at the Coronado National Forest's chiltepin reserves. The harvest peaks September through November. Native Seeds/SEARCH on Campbell sells dried chiltepin, and Exo Roast Co. on North 6th uses chiltepin in their celebrated cold-brew coffee blend.

1 editor pick for Chiltepin pepper in Tucson, ranked by editorial score. All Tucson signature dishes · Chiltepin pepper across every city.

Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide

Chiltepin pepper makes more sense with someone from Tucson explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.

Book food experiences in Tucson

See all 40 bookable experiences in Tucson