13 Types of Chillies in India
Indians are lucky to have so many varieties of chilies.

Why?

This diversity allows us to enjoy a variety of regional dishes, each with its unique tastes and aromas.
The chillies are an essential part of all three factors.
The following guide will share the top-selling varieties of Indian chillies.
Let’s get started!

India: Chillies Types

These are some of the most famous Indian chillies.

1. Kashmiri
KashmiriChillies
As the name suggests, Kashmiri Chillies are found in Kashmir and the surrounding regions.
It is well-known for its deep red color. This is why so many chefs choose this variety over other types of chillies. It’s also not too hot to the taste.You won’t get burned if you only put a few tablespoons of curry in your dish. It enhances the dish’s color.
These characteristics have made the Kashmiri variety a household name.
It can be found in almost all Indian grocery stores.
These are the characteristics
• Color – Red
• Taste – Less Spicy
• Used In – Kashmiri Dum Aloo, Punjabi Curries, Kashmiri Razvan

2. Guntur

Guntur Chillies
Guntur variety, another Indian variety, is also prevalent. It comes from Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur District. Guntur Mirchi Yard, India’s largest chilli trading area, is also located in the district. These chillies are known for their zest. This is also evident in Andhra cuisine. Guntur chillies are used in many Andhra local dishes.
Some of their dishes are, therefore, spicier than Indian regional cuisines.
These are the characteristics
• Color – Red
• Taste – Very Spicy
• Used In – NatuKodi Kura, MamsamPulusu

3. Jwala

JwalaChillies
The JwalaChillies, despite being a common name in Indian households, are very popular.
Thesechillies can be pretty intense. It is essential to limit their use. This variety can also be used as an accompaniment to evening snacks such as Samosa and BatataVada. You can also make your pickles with them
These are the characteristics
• Color – Green/Red
• Taste – Spicy
• Use in – Different Sabzis and Curries

4. Byadgi

ByadgiChillies
The state of Karnataka is home to the Byadgis, which is one of India’s most loved chillies. It is an integral part of Udipi cuisine. Byadgis add an excellent shade of red to curries. These aren’t as spicy as the dark red ones. They can be used as an alternative to Kashmiri Chillies.

These are the characteristics
• Color – Deep Red
• Taste – Lightly spicy
• Use in – Fish Curries and Chicken Curries

5. Boria

BoriaChillies
BoriaChillies are well-known for their beautiful shape.
These berry-sized chillies do possess moderate pungency. This variety is generally used to make tadka for different Dals and Kadhis.
These are the characteristics.
• Color – Dark Red
• Taste Moderately spicy
• Useful in – Different Sabzis and Dals

6. Sankeshwari

SankeshwariChillies
SankeshwariChillies are from Sankeshwar, Kolhapur in Maharashtra.
It is a common ingredient in Maharashtrian cuisine, particularly in coastal dishes. It can also be a spicy type of chilli. This spice is often mixed with dry masalas to make traditional garam masala powder.
These are the characteristics
• Color – Red
• Taste – Very Spicy
• Use in – Fish Curries and Chicken Curries, Vegetables

7. Naga & Bhut Jolokia

These chillies are some of the spiciest in the world.
Both of them can be found in India, which is the Northeastern States of India. These are Nagaland and Assam, as well as Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. It is not suitable for Indian cuisine as it is too hot to eat.
The local communities use these peppers to make pickles, curries, and chutneys.
Did you know?
The locals also use these super hot chillies to drive wild elephants away from their farms.
These are the characteristics
• Color – Fiery Red
• Extremely spicy taste
• Use In – BhutJolokia Pickle

8. Mathania

Sounds like a familiar name?
Mathias is well-known for their use in Laal Maas which is a famous Rajasthani curry. It adds vibrant colors to the dish, making it more appealing to the eye. Here you can find the best quality Mathaniachillies. This variety, except for Rajasthan, isn’t as well-known as the other chillies. It is therefore limited to regional dishes.
These are the characteristics
• Color – Red
• Taste – Very Spicy
• Used In – Laal Maas, Ker Sangri

9. Bhavnagri

The stuffed chillies are the most common way to describe this variety.
This is the one used by chefs to make the BharwanMirchi. Its size and spice are the reasons. BhavnagarChillies do not contain hot peppers. It becomes much easier to bear the heat. Their size makes it easy to stuff the mixture.They can be used for MirchikaSalan which is an accompaniment to the royal Hyderabadi Biryanis.

These are the characteristics.
• Color – Green
• Taste – Moderately spicy or mildly spicy
• Use In – BharwanMirchi and MirchiPakoda

10. Kanthari

Kanthariis a Bird’s Eye chilli variety.
They can be found in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Meghalaya. This is a very pungent variety. It is therefore not recommended for significant cooking.
These are the characteristics.
• Color – Green and Red
• Taste – Very Spicy
• Used in – KanthariMulakuChammanthi, KanthariUppilittathu (“Pickle”), Kerala’s Chicken Curry

11. Longi

LongChillies are always found in Bikaneri snacks, whether it’s a Bhujia or any other nankeen. This is the Mirchi type that makes all of those delicious snacks taste great.
The pungency?
It’s not overpoweringly pungent, but it’s strong enough to make a lasting impression on your taste buds.
These are the characteristics
• Color – Red
• Taste – Spicy
• Use in – Various Vegetables Both Veg. and Non-Veg. Curries, Namkeen Snacks

12. Ramnad Mundu

This variety is from Tamil Nadu’s Ramnad region.
Munduchilies are round-shaped chilies that have a distinctive flavor and taste. It is also found in many local delicacies such as Sambar, Chutneys, and others.
These are the characteristics
• Color – Dark Red
• Taste – Spicy
• Uses: Sambar, Chutneys and Other Curries

13. Dhani

It is also known by Bird’s Eye Chillies and hails from India’s Northeastern region.
DhaniChillies have a strong taste but are smaller than other Indian Mirchi’s.
These are the characteristics
• Color – Red
• Taste – Very Spicy
• Use in – Pickles

Other India Chillies Notable

The chillies mentioned above should not be the only ones to be included in the guide.
Here’s a quick overview of some Indian chillies.
• Nalchetti
• Warangal Chappatta
• Reshampatti
• Titimitti
• Tadepalli
• Teja
These are the most popular chillies in India.

If you travel to remote villages, you will discover many more varieties and subvarieties.
But that’s not all!
Farmers have also begun to experiment with imported varieties such as Jalapenos and Banana Peppers.
It won’t surprise farmers if they can successfully adapt to more chilli varieties over the following decades.