Ancho chili | crushed | 1-3 mm | dark red | Scoville Units: 3.000-5.000

Ancho is the dried version of the Pablona Chili, which is native to Mexico. This very mild chili variety, which is particularly popular in Mexico, bears very large fruits, up to 15 cm long and 7 cm thick. Unripe fruits are green and change their colour from dark red to almost black when ripe. While the unripe, green Poblano Chili is mostly freshly processed, the fully ripe, dark fruits are dried. Now the fruit is called Ancho (Spanish for width), because the chili turns into a flat, very broad and heart-shaped pod. Dried pods are offered ground or crushed. The very mild variety has a fruity, almost sweet taste, reminiscent of dried raisins, liquorice, tobacco and coffee. Ancho is often combined with spicier chilli varieties to significantly reduce the overall sharpness. This chilli goes wonderfully with dark sauces, meat dishes and pasta or can also be combined with chocolate and fruit.