What is Chili Pepper Flakes?

Chili Pepper Flakes are crushed dried chili peppers, typically a blend of Capsicum annuum varieties. The crushed-flake format includes both flesh and seeds and is the familiar pizza-and-pasta heat of Western kitchens.

About the plant

Capsicum annuum belongs to the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and traces to the Americas. The heat comes from capsaicin, and standard red pepper flakes typically run in the medium range of about 15,000 to 30,000 Scoville Heat Units. Much of a pepper's heat sits in the white pith near the seeds, so a crushed blend that keeps the seeds and pith gives a fuller heat profile. Flakes are a staple of Italian cooking such as aglio e olio and arrabbiata, and they scatter easily over pizza, pasta, and marinades.

Related herbs

• Cayenne Pepper 40M HU — a standardized-heat ground cayenne for hot sauce and rubs.

Chili Pepper Flakes: form & sizes

We carry Chili Pepper Flakes as crushed dried flakes, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Chili Pepper Flakes in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Chili Pepper Flakes at a glance

Botanical name

Capsicum annuum

Family

Solanaceae

Native region

the Americas

Plant part

fruit (peppers)

Heat level

Typically 15,000 to 30,000 Scoville Heat Units

Heat-producing compound

Capsaicin

Form

crushed dried flakes

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb