Three New Peppers
‘Melrose’ is Chicago’s favorite heirloom cooking Pepper
Hot Peppers have been getting most of the hype in recent years but today we’d like to talk about our new sweet varieties. We’re stepping outside the Bell box a bit to expand the flavor palette without turning up the heat. Each of these Peppers brings its own unique character from the garden to the kitchen: Central American ‘Costa Rican Sweet’, Chicago’s famous heirloom ‘Melrose’, and the popular mini Lunchbox Mix.
‘Costa Rican Sweet’ is the new savory Southern pepper from Burpee
FROM CENTRAL AMERICA—‘COSTA RICAN SWEET’ PEPPER
Not hot but sweet, this vegetable is noted for its big fruity Pepper taste. ‘Costa Rican Sweet’ also adds broader, wider flavor that is much more savory than a typical sweet variety, even though the shape is ‘Marconi’-esque. It’s shorter in length than ‘Marconi’ and a little wider at the top.
Pick this Pepper when the skin turns deep ruby red to experience the unique sweet, fruity flavor at its peak—fruits should be about six inches long. To be honest, we consider this an Eating Pepper because the flavor is so full. We like to slice it for dipping in our homemade ranch dressing or tossing in salad because it’s so flavorful; however, roasting or grilling ‘Costa Rican Sweet’ intensifies the flavor and adds some charred smokiness as well.
It’s taken awhile for this Pepper to catch on in the US, possibly because it has the look of a hot Pepper. Timid taste buds might be afraid of it and heat seekers might be disappointed. It grows where other Peppers thrive, which means soil with good drainage and at least six hours of sun a day. It also does well in patio pots.
Thin skin and a sturdy shape give ‘Melrose’ its cooking and stuffing fame
FROM CHICAGO—‘MELROSE’ PEPPER
Next up is a true Italian Pepper that’s beloved in the Chicago area. Heirlooms exist among the Peppers just as with the Tomatoes, and they are finally getting their due in the market. We’ve been on a personal quest to add these regional favorites to our vegetable production and ‘Melrose’ fits the bill. There’s a great story behind this Pepper.
In 1903, Joseph and Lucia Napolitano emigrated from Southern Italy to America and brought with them a collection of seeds to grow fruits and vegetables to feed their family. Some of the seeds came from Pepper plants that had grown in volcanic earth in the small Italian town of Nocera Inferiore. These seeds grew easily in the rich soil of Melrose Park—the Chicago suburb where the family ended up—and the Napolitanos named the Pepper after their new hometown.
It looks hot, but ‘Melrose’ is sweet and savory at the same time
Soon the plant became a favorite among local Italian-American backyard gardeners. Many Italians settled in Melrose Park in the early 1900s because there were large tracts of fertile farmland, and their small, family-run farms came to be known as pepper patches. Their gardens reminded them of home, and these backyard gardens continued to thrive right on into the 1950s when the farmland was converted to retail and residential neighborhoods.
Chicago is still where you’re most likely to find the ‘Melrose’ Pepper and it is revered there. ‘Melrose’ is considered a superb heirloom frying Pepper and despite its resemblance to a hot chile it has no heat. When harvested young and green it tastes like an extra sweet green bell Pepper. When fully ripe and vivid red it’s super sweet, with deep, rich flavor that lends itself to many unique recipes.
‘Melrose’ also makes a great dried Pepper for cooking later (or craft decor)
‘Melrose’ is great for pasta sauce and for stuffing, but it’s famously prepared as Cruschi—strung up and sun dried during the last days of summer and then deep fried in olive oil. Once fried, the Peppers are eaten as a crispy snack or crumbled and used to flavor or garnish other dishes.
This Pepper has many devoted fans among locals and those who’ve had the opportunity to try it. Until recently it was difficult to find outside the Chicago area. For some who have grown it ‘Melrose’ has become their primary Pepper—they grow more of it than they do bells. One apt description we’ve heard refers to it as “sweet, earthy, and thin skinned so it doesn’t overpower a dish.” It simply ticks all the boxes for an interesting Pepper to grow.
The Cherry Tomato of Peppers—'Lunchbox Mix'
BY POPULAR DEMAND—'LUNCHBOX MIX' PEPPERS
We have one more new Pepper that ought to seem very familiar if you follow the trends: Lunchbox Sweet Mix. Snack-sized vegetables are popular across the entire category. We enjoy this size Pepper for snacking—it’s kind of like the Cherry Tomato of Peppers. We’ve been on the hunt to find the sweetest, most flavorful Lunchbox Pepper that doesn’t leave that odd Pepper taste in your mouth. This is the closest we have found to the perfect Pepper for that need.
Although a tray of ‘Lunchbox’ is a mix, each plant produces just one color
These new sweet varieties join our already large collection of Peppers. They range from the devilishly hot ‘Carolina Reaper’ to the zesty ‘Jalapeño’ and the mild ‘Better Belle’, and from the savory ‘Garden Salsa’ and ‘Super Chili’ to the sweet ‘Purple Beauty’ and ‘Carmen’, to name just two. Our complete line can be found in our Spring Idea Book or under the Availability section of our website.
‘Costa Rican Sweet’, ‘Melrose’, and Lunchbox Sweet Mix are available in the 1801 flat. ‘Melrose’ comes in the 1202 flat as well.
