I’ve been a fan of Peruvian cuisine from the first time I tasted it, and luckily my city has several great options. When I saw that Chiporro had a hot sauce based on a Peruvian pepper, and one that I hadn’t tasted before, at least not in a more pure form, I knew it was something that I had to try.
Rocoto peppers are quite unique from the majority of the chile peppers on the market. To begin with they come from a unique genus, Capsicum Pubescens (and if you think that sounds somewhat like puberty, you’d be correct, as the pubescens name comes from the hairy leaves of the plant), as opposed to the more common Capsicum Chinense (Habanero, Ghost Chile, Carolina Reaper, Scotch Bonnet, etc), or Capsicum Annum (jalapeno, serrano, cayenne, poblano, and many more). Capsicum Pubescens is native to parts of Mexico and western South America, including of course, Peru. The pepper itself is also quite unique looking, featuring black seeds as opposed to the more common white.
Chiporro does a good job with letting the Rocoto peppers place center stage here as the primary ingredient, and just adds a set of supporting characters to round out the flavor. It took me a bit to fully wrap my head around the taste of this sauce as it’s different from any I’ve had before. The Rocoto pepper has a very earthy and savory flavor, but that is balanced against citrus notes and a slight floral aroma. The heat is slow building, it comes across as quite mild at first, but as you eat more it builds more. The onions, garlic, and tomatoes add some richness to the overall experience and highlight those earthy notes of the Rocoto while also allowing the citrus and exotic peppercorn flavors to shine through.
The sauce itself is thick and smooth but still pours easily. I’ve found it a great pairing with brighter foods that could use a little more savory richness, especially tomato-based pasta sauces and citrus-grilled shrimp. I also did use it with one of my favorite and most simple Peruvian dishes – Palta Rellena con Pollo, and it was a great pairing as expected.
If you’re curious about the taste of a pepper you haven’t tried before, or if you love earthy sauces, this is a must-get.
by MagnusAlbusPater