FINGER HOT PEPPER

~10 lbs Finger Hot Pepper aka "Red Finger Hot", "Hong-Zhi-Tian-Jiao", "红指天椒", "紅指天椒" Finger hot pepper is a tiny, red chili pepper with thin skin. It is long with a pointed tip. Finger hot pepper is very spicy and will be a good addition to sauces, salsas, and dips for some extra heat. Finger hot pepper is available year-round. Handling Tip Selection Finger hot pepper is firm with glossy red skin, unblemished, and not shriveling. Dry lines or striations across the skin indicate a hotter pepper. These lines are not an indication of poor quality. Storage Finger hot pepper should be stored at 45°F - 55°F (7°C - 13°C) with a relative humidity of ninety to ninety-five percent and no mist. The typical shelf life is two to three weeks. Shelf life can be extended by another week by packaging in moisture-retentive films under optimal storage temperature. Storage temperature above 55°F (13°C) will accelerate ripening and bacterial soft rot. Finger hot pepper is sensitive to ethylene, a naturally occurring gas that regulates ripening. Finger hot pepper should not be stored with high ethylene-producing products to extend shelf life and avoid softening and discoloration. Finger hot pepper produces a very low level of ethylene. Finger hot pepper is moderately sensitive to chilling injury at storage below 45°F (7°c). Symptoms include surface pitting, water-soaked areas, decay, and discoloration of the seed cavity.