Escondida

Escondida is a Capsicum annuum landrace originating from the village of Escondida near Socorro, New Mexico, United States. The name translates to “hidden” in Spanish and reflects the settlement's limited historical documentation, appearing in the 1860 United States Census as La Escondida before largely disappearing from records.

Plants typically reach 60 to 90 centimetres in height and produce elongated pods measuring approximately 7.5 to 12.5 centimetres long. Fruits mature from green to red at full ripeness.

The flavour is rich with mild sweetness and moderate heat, averaging around 15,000 Scoville Heat Units. Although no longer cultivated in its place of origin, the Escondida pepper survives through preservation and propagation by growers seeking to maintain this historically significant landrace.