Prik Kee Noo, a legendary Thai chili pepper, is celebrated for its intense heat, compact size, and versatile culinary uses. The name translates to “mouse-dropping chili,” reflecting its small size, and it is a staple in Thai cuisine, bringing fiery heat to dishes like curries, stir-fries, and sauces. Native to Southeast Asia, this variety has been cultivated for centuries, prized for its combination of spice and flavor.
Prik Kee Noo plants are compact and bushy, reaching a height of approximately 45–60 cm, making them suitable for gardens and containers alike. The peppers are tiny and slender, measuring 1–2 cm in length and 0.5 cm in diameter, with a smooth, glossy surface. Initially green, the fruits ripen to a vibrant red. Each pepper weighs less than a gram but delivers an intense punch of heat, ranging from 100,000 to 225,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Fruits mature in about 90–100 days after transplanting, with high productivity throughout the growing season.