Bulgarian Carrot Pepper Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses

What looks like a carrot, but kicks like cayenne?

Bulgarian carrot pepper fast facts:

• Scoville heat units (SHU): 5,000 – 30,000 SHU
• Median heat: 17,500 SHU
• Origin: Bulgaria
• Capsicum species: Annuum
• Jalapeño reference scale: Equal heat to 12 times hotter
• Use: Culinary
• Size: Approximately 3 to 4 inches long
• Flavor: Sweet, Fruity, Crisp

That would be the Bulgarian carrot pepper. With its pointy shape and bright-orange skin, the Bulgarian carrot – a.k.a. shipka or hot carrot pepper – is unmistakable. It’s even a bit crunchier than other chilies which makes it terrific for roasting and pickling. Plus, its colorful skin and fruity flavor look and taste great in salsas and chutney.

How hot is the Bulgarian carrot pepper?

There’s a lot of debate about the range of this chili. Some reports claim 2,500 – 5,000 (in line with our reference point, the jalapeño pepper), while others report 50,000 to 100,000 (on par with hot Thai peppers). The true range is likely something in between 5,000 to 30,000 Scoville heat units. This places the Bulgarian carrot squarely in the medium range of hot peppers – at minimum the spice of a jalapeño with a top range around a cayenne pepper. That’s hot, but not so hot as to limit its use to only extreme eaters.

What’s the story behind them?

These peppers, not-surprisingly, originate from Bulgaria. Bulgarian carrot peppers go by the moniker “hot carrot peppers” (for again obvious reasons). They are also commonly known as shipka peppers, though some see shipkas and Bulgarian carrot peppers as two different chili types.

They have a very Cold War-Esque origin story. Rumor has it that these chilies were smuggled out from behind the Iron Curtain in the 1980s, and they’ve grown in popularity ever since, both as a cooking chili and as an ornamental pepper plant. Growing three to four inches long with that shock orange color, these chilies do have a very dramatic appearance that’s terrific for landscaping.

What do these chilies taste like?

Three words best describe shipkas: spicy, crisp, and fruity. There’s a crunch to Bulgarian carrot chilies that makes it special among its cousins on the pepper scale. The crunchy skin makes these chilies excellent for pickling and roasting.

The fruitiness and orange hue also make these chilies terrific for sauces, salsas, and chutneys. In fact, many people who try the Bulgarian carrot pepper feel that it’s one of the tastiest chilies they’ve ever tasted. The sweetness is similar to chilies typically found well up the Scoville scale, like the habanero and scotch bonnet pepper, so you get the sweet without the sweat. Well…at least not as much sweat. These are still pretty darn hot chilies.

Where can you buy Bulgarian carrot peppers?

These chilies are a favorite among growers, but finding them at your local supermarket may be a stretch. Look to farmer’s markets. If you have a green thumb, try your hand at growing yourself. Bulgarian carrot pepper seeds are widely available online, and these chilies grow well even in containers.

This is one chili pepper that’s easy to love: spicy, fruity, and crisp all in one. Plus its unique carrot-like looks provide a lot of unique beauty to the home landscaping. It may be tough to find, but once discovered it just well may become a staple for your kitchen and garden.