Hot Pepper Seeds by Country
Hot peppers form a living map of human history, trade, and taste, weaving through kitchens and gardens on every continent where the climate allows them to thrive. Indigenous to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America, Capsicum species traveled with explorers, traders, and farmers, taking root in new soils and cuisines worldwide.
Today, annuum types like jalapeños, cayennes, and bells dominate markets from North America to Europe and East Asia, while chinense varieties such as habaneros and Scotch bonnets define Caribbean and parts of West African heat.
Baccatum ají peppers remain central to Peruvian and Bolivian cooking, and pubescens rocotos cling to cool Andean highlands. In India and Southeast Asia, chilies are everyday essentials, brightening curries, stir-fries, and street food.
Across this global landscape, peppers express local climate, culture, and creativity, evolving into thousands of cultivars that range from sweet and mild to searingly hot, all sharing one botanical heartbeat: Capsicum.
Embark on a global journey to discover which peppers capture your curiosity and which hold the greatest cultural and culinary significance.
Some travelers discover unforgettable flavors they can’t quite name, while others long for the taste of home. To help everyone feel connected to distant places, we’ve shared peppers from each country — both cherished landrace varieties and beloved regional favorites. Visit individual pepper descriptions to learn more.
