Cooking Tips

What is a Chipotle Pepper?

Chipotle chilis have their origin in the ancient civilization of Teotihuacan, one of the largest cities in the northern region of Mexico, long time before Aztecs appear. Later, they were found in the central and southern region of this country and the expression тЂњchipotleтЂќ expanded to the rest of the world, especially to the west area of the United States. The word chipotle is mainly used in Mexican culture. Aztecs used to call, in their own language, тЂњchiliтЂќ to capsicum peppers and тЂњpoctliтЂќ to the product they obtained when they тЂњsmokedтЂќ the fruit. Because the word тЂњchipotleтЂќ comes originally from the Nahuatl word тЂњchipoctliтЂќ, it exists a confusion in the spelling and the pronunciation of the word. This is the reason why there are many versions of тЂњchipotleтЂќ, but it is important to define that the word in spanish is pronounced as тЂњchee-poht-layтЂќ. In recent years, people in Mexico and the United States associate jalapeno chilis with the word chipotle, but it is necessary to clarify that this expression not only refers to this variety. chipotle refers to all capsicum peppers that are dried-smoked. Native American of Teotihuacan experienced with thick fleshed chiles, which were the early jalapenos, to dehydrate them in the sun, but this method was very difficult. That is how they invented a new smoke-drying process to preserve capsicum chilis as they used to do with meat, creating a current chipotle recipe. Chipotle process consists in placing hot peppers on wood, bamboo or metal grills inside a smoking chamber that receives the smoke from a firebox where wood is located. Less greasy hardwoods are recommended to create smoke such as hickory, oak and pecan that could even contribute to the coloration of the chipotle pepper. A "dried" chipotle usually stays in this process for several days until it is removed about 80 to 90 percent of its moisture, get the taste of smoke and the look of a cigar butt. Currently, some processors use large gas dryers and have even started to use liquid smoke which produce a different kind of chipotle chile. In conclusion, chipotle refers to smoke dried peppers that can be used in the form of chili pepper powder and chili mash as seasonings for hot sauces and other spicy dishes. These forms are regularly used in Mexican cuisine and are quickly expanding to other countries in America, Europe and Asia.

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