Siling labuyo is the smallest hot chili pepper in the world. It is a cultivar that was developed in the Philippines after the Columbian Exchange. Capsicum frutescens ‘Siling Labuyo’ is the official name of this hot chili pepper. It is rated about 80,000 SHU (Scoville Heat Units).
As with most Capsicum Frutescens varieties, the fruits themselves point upwards. Siling or Sili translates to Chili in Tagalog (Filipino), and Labuyo means wild, which means it literally translates to ‘Wild Chili’.
Check video comparison below
Beware of fake Siling Labuyo seeds. Unfortunately, all of those I checked selling these online were selling fake seeds. If you are friends with a Filipino, they may be able to get you some seeds.
Real vs Fake and watch me eat one here:
Identification
The leaves of Siling Labuyo are quite small at between 2″ and 2.5″ (50mm to (65mm), and are very elongated with pointy tips. The fruits are usually 0.4″ to 0.8″ (9mm to 20mm).
Culinary
The fruits are seldom used in cooking, and are usually put in a dipping condiment called Toyomansi. This consists of soya sauce, calamansi (little lemons), and Siling Labuyo whole. Oftentimes some vinegar is added to the mix. The peppers will be bruised with a fork or spoon to the extent of what spiciness is required by the diner. Everything from lechon to dried fish is dipped in this condiment.
