Achar

Achar is a named Capsicum annuum pepper offered in the seed and plant trade as a rare Indian variety, including listings that link it to USDA Plant Introduction PI 640826.

Grower and catalogue descriptions commonly list pendant pods about 3–4 inches long and 0.75–1 inch wide, ripening from green to deep red. Plants are often listed around 18–24 inches tall, with midseason maturity commonly described in the 70–80 day range, though some sources list longer.

This variety is marketed specifically for pickling, powder and general Indian cuisine use. The name can be confusing because “achar” or “achaar” is also a common South Asian word for pickles, so many references online may be food-related rather than referring to this specific pepper line.

Several details conflict across listings. Some sellers describe it as mild while others call it hot without providing numbers. Days to maturity and plant height also vary widely between sources, and at least one listing gives much taller plant sizes that may reflect seller error or a different pepper being sold under the same name. The 1500 SHU figure should be treated as an estimate rather than a confirmed lab-tested value for this exact cultivar.