Cabai Burong

Cabai Burong is a Malaysian Capsicum annuum landrace sold as a hot, upright-fruiting chilli. Seed listings commonly describe upright pods that ripen from green to red, typically about 2–2.5 inches long and 0.25–0.375 inches wide. Plants are often listed around 36–42 inches tall, with midseason maturity usually given as 70–80 days.

The name “cabai burong” is commonly explained as meaning bird chilli, linked to birds feeding on the fruit. This name is used locally and in the seed trade, though it can refer to more than one closely related pepper type.

Food-use descriptions for this named pepper in seed listings focus on drying and grinding into powder, sometimes noting a slight citrus or lemon-like flavour. It is generally described as hot rather than extremely hot.

There is conflicting information online. Some sources list Cabai Burong as Capsicum frutescens, while others list it as Capsicum annuum, indicating the name may be applied to more than one plant line. Reported heat values vary widely across general SHU tables, so 20000 SHU is used here as a practical midpoint estimate rather than a confirmed lab-tested value.