Bird's eye pepper plants
A small upright pod with a fast heat. Not the Thai plants on the other page.
By Debra Austin
Species: Capsicum annuum
Which bird's eye this is
Bird's eye is a trade name, not a species. Southeast Asian cooking uses a small upright frutescens or annuum under that name. African bird's eye is closer to piri piri. The plant we list as Birds Eye is a Capsicum annuum, the same species as a jalapeno, with the pod habit of the little hot ones.
It is not our Thai page. KS White Thai and Halloween Thai are their own plants. It is also not a chiltepin. Chiltepins are the wild round berry. A bird's eye pod is a bit longer and it was selected by people, even if birds still move the seed.
How hot a bird's eye runs
The Birds Eye on our list is 50,000 to 100,000 SHU. That is the hot band, about the same place as our Thai plants and well above a serrano. The burn is sharp and fairly short, which is why these pods go into a dish whole or sliced thin instead of being used as a powder.
How people cook with them
A bird's eye is a seasoning pepper. One or two pods season a pan of noodles, a vinegar, or a Filipino or Thai-style dipping sauce. The pod is thin-walled, so it dries without turning leathery. Leave the seeds in if you want the full number. Scrape them if you want the flavor with less of the burn.
Growing a bird's eye
The plant stays smaller than a bell or a poblano, which is the practical reason people keep one in a pot. It wants sun and a container of at least three gallons if it is going to live on a patio. Pick often. A plant that holds ripe pods will slow down.
Our listing is one variety, not a set of colors. If it is sold out, the page still describes the plant. Stock turns over every couple of months.
The Bird's Eye we grow
Questions people ask
How hot is a bird's eye pepper?
The Birds Eye we grow is listed at 50,000 to 100,000 SHU. That is hot, in the same band as our Thai plants, and hotter than a serrano.
Is a bird's eye the same as a Thai pepper?
Not on this site. Thai is its own page, with KS White Thai and Halloween Thai. Bird's eye is a separate listing.
Is a bird's eye a chiltepin?
No. A chiltepin is a wild round annuum. A bird's eye is a small cultivated pod. Birds eat both, which is where the shared name comes from.
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