Mulato Chilli

Heat; 2/10

2500 to 3000 on the Scoville scale

The mulato pepper (Capsicum annuum) is a mild to medium chilli pepper, closely related to the poblano (ancho), and usually sold dried.

Mexican mulato chiles are part of the famous “trinity” (with the ancho and the pasilla), used in mole, as well as other Mexican sauces and stews.

The mulato’s colour while growing is dark green, maturing to red or brown.

Mulato and Ancho chillies are both dried forms of the poblano peppers, from two closely related varieties.

The mulato pepper’s poblano has a fuller taste and a darker complexion compared to the poblano pepper, and they are hard to find in fresh form.

The dried mulato is flat and wrinkled, and always brownish-black in colour.

The average length and width of the mulato is 10 cm and 5 cm, respectively.

Its shape is wide at the top, tapering to a blunt point.

The mulato has been described as tasting somewhat like chocolate or licorice, with undertones of cherry and tobacco.