Paper Lantern

Paper Lantern, also marketed as Hot Paper Lantern or Paper Lantern Habanero, is a Capsicum chinense cultivar commonly described as a modern U.S.-selected habanero-type pepper. It is widely featured in seed catalogues and grower listings rather than in historical botanical literature.

Pods are elongated and lantern-shaped, typically measuring approximately 5–8 cm long and about 2.5–5 cm wide. Fruits begin green and ripen through orange to bright red. Walls are generally described as thin and crisp. Plants commonly reach around 70–100 cm tall and are reported to be productive, including in cooler temperate climates compared with some other habanero lines.

Heat is frequently reported in the range of 150000–450000 SHU. A rounded central estimate of 300000 SHU reflects the middle of commonly cited values. These figures are based on seller and grower descriptions rather than published laboratory testing specific to this named line, and variation between seed sources is noted.

Flavour descriptions consistently mention fruity sweetness followed by strong, lingering heat. The elongated pod form contributes to suitability for drying, sauces, salsas and powders.

There is no documented breeder record, formal cultivar registration, or confirmed first publication year available in accessible sources. The name appears primarily in modern seed trade contexts, and earliest known reference remains undocumented.