In search of chili Rayado

[frdlturner]

I been searching for Chili Rayado seeds to buy but can not find anywhere that sells them saw a post here and hope someone here knows where to buy them
Thanks

[macmex]

Danny, I grow them every year from seed I brought back from Mexico. I can get you some seed, same terms as I just messaged you concerning Old Timey Cornfield Pumpkin. They could go in the same padded envelope.

Also, for any future seekers, I know that there are several other members of Green Country Seed Savers who are now growing this pepper. It's just important to give peppers some isolation, when producing seed. I've considered Chile Rayado to be a c. capsicum, and treat it that way when producing seed. This means I separate it by at least 50' from any other c. capsicum. The only other c. capsicum I normally grow is Frank's Thai Hot. This year the two are separated by about 70' and a whole lot of tall foliage. I plant my peppers in blocks, also, to help protect a bit more from cross pollination. So far, I've never had a single pepper cross, except when I gathered seed from a couple c. chinese species peppers, at my brother's home, in NJ. they were all planted together in a wide row. I had quite a few crosses (all of them tasty) when I grew out that seed. It was not a problem to select back to the pure, desired varieties.

George

[frdlturner]

Thanks George
I have plenty of space to grow (6 1/2 acres)
I have some cloth tea bags can they be put on flower buds before they open to keep them pure to save seed

[frdlturner]

does anyone have a pic of this pepper before it is dried and smoked

[macmex]

Here you go. "Rayado" refers to the cracks and translates "streaked" or "striped."



I searched for this seed for over 6 years, without success. This was because it is rarely sold fresh. The norm is to smoke it. I often visited in the region it was grown. But I wasn't able to be present when they harvested, and never got around to asking to go out to the field to pick some fruit. I asked for seed. But folk always agreed and then forgot. The farmers didn't save their own seed. They had organized a pretty good sized cooperative for the production of this pepper. I was told that some years earlier, chefs from Germany learned of this pepper and asked to buy it in large quantities. The problem was, that the individual growers couldn't produce amount that the Germans considered the minimum amount to make it worth their while. So, someone organized a co-op. They had growers and someone was selected to produce the transplants. Hence, none of my friends had seed on hand when I looked. We left Mexico in 2001 and I stopped looking.

However, every year until 2010, I would return and teach in the Bible Institute, where we had served. One year (might have been around 2009) the students in one of my classes figured out that I REALLY like seeds. Some of them went home over the weekend, and when we gathered for the next module, a number of them presented me with gifts of seed from their villages. Among the gifts was an orange sized bag of Chile Rayado seed! I've grown it ever since, saving my own seed.

[frdlturner]

Thanks

[frdlturner]

George
Can I share your picture I have some friends that say the rayado and the jalapeno farmers market are the same but to me the look like 2 different peppers
The rayado looks shorter and fatter I can wait till I grow them they look like a firmer type of jalapeno

[macmex]

Sure, go ahead. There is variation in between some Chile Rayados in flavor and heat. But I'm pretty sure that almost any Rayado is hotter than almost any Jalapeño. I normally describe Chile Rayado as a "Jalapeño type." They're similar but not the same.

Just as an example. I've dropped 1 (one) dried Rayado in a crockpot of stew and had my wife and daughter say they can't eat it, as it's too hot. I really doubt that one chipotle would do that.

Also, where we last lived in Mexico (Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo) they sold chipotle in the grocery stores and smoked Chile Rayado in the market. I never heard anyone interchange the names.

Incidentally, the quality of the Chile Rayado varied, in part due to its growing conditions. Most all Chile Rayado was grown in mountainous terrain. Some were grown on East facing slopes and some on West facing slopes. I was told that those which grew on a West facing slope, and caught the afternoon sun, which was hottest, were the peppers with the most heat and best flavor. Though from the same seed, the different growing conditions even made the peppers grow slightly differently. A truly experienced eye could pick out which was which, from a mixed pile.

In the Ixmiquilpan market, vendors would purchase both quality peppers and then mix them, selling little piles for a higher price than they'd otherwise get, as they treated them as if they were all the higher quality pepper. Most consumers couldn't tell. One of my son's friends could tell. He'd make the vendors mad because he'd sort the best Rayados from a couple of piles and pay the "price per pile."

It's my theory that NE Oklahoma is very much to this pepper's liking. Though we don't claim to be connoisseurs, we really believe that our dried Rayados are truly excellent. They are REALLY hot too!

[frdlturner]

thanks

[Casey]

Hi,

Just taking a long shot here, but does anyone have any Rayado seeds available? I am a professional chef that has been just getting into farming on a small scale over the last few years, and I enjoy growing the more rare items. Thanks,

Casey

[macmex]

Casey, I have seed. Message me and we can arrange shipping details.

George

[Lenay]

I would also like to get Chili Rayado seeds if you still have them. Where should I message you to set that up?

[macmex]

I noticed you figured out how to message me. Answered you there!

[macmex]

Normally my experience has been that Chile Rayado germinates and sprouts very quickly compared to most other peppers, even under "coolish" temperatures, but this year, not so. It has taken forever to sprout. It was so late sprouting, that I about gave up hope that it would, and then, boing! the little plants started popping up. I'm suspecting that in spite of a heat mat under their tray, the greenhouse temperatures fluctuate too much and they simply wait until night time temperatures are more to their liking.