Suggested uses

Basic prep

Storage & handling

Store in a dry, cool place for up to 12 months under optimal storage conditions.

Ingredients

Dried Chipotle Chiles

Chipotle morita chiles, which are one of two varieties of chipotle chiles, are made from fully ripened jalapeño peppers. When picked early in the season, jalapeños are green – it isn’t until late in the season that the jalapeños lose most of their moisture and begin to turn red. After the ripe jalapeños are harvested, they are dried and smoked, turning them into chipotle chiles. Allowing the jalapeños to ripen fully gives chipotle chiles an inherently fruity-sweet flavor since the chile has more time to create and store sugar.

Chipotle morita chiles average about 1-1/2 to 3 inches in length, 1/2 to 1 inch in width, and have a deep reddish-purple color and smoky-fruity flavor. Their heat level is mild to medium, ranging from 12,000 to 26,000 Scoville Heat Units, which is comparable to guajillo and mild serrano chiles. There are two specific varieties of chipotle chiles – chipotle morita and chipotle meco. Chipotle morita chiles are smaller than chipotle meco chiles, as they are picked earlier in the season, often when the jalapenos are still somewhat green in color. Moritas are also smoked for a shorter amount of time, which allows them to retain much of their sweet, fruity flavor. These chipotles are the most widely used throughout the United States. Chipotle meco chiles are smoked for almost twice as long as moritas, giving them a deeper, smokier flavor and dusty brown color. They are also slightly larger than moritas, ranging from 2 to 4 inches long.

Unlike chipotle moritas, chipotle meco chiles are not often seen or used north of their native Mexico. The use of chipotle chiles is said to date back to the time of the ancient Aztecs, in central-southern Mexico. In fact, the name “chipotle” stems from the Nahuatl word “chilpoctil,” meaning smoked chile. Due to their growing popularity outside of Mexico, chipotle chiles are now grown in the United States as well. Our Chipotle Morita Chile Powder is made from 100% finely ground chipotle morita chiles, capturing their smoky-sweet flavor and medium heat in a convenient powdered form.