Boonie Peppers!
Q: What are boonie peppers?
A: They are Guam’s local peppers that grow in the jungle areas of the island. They are essential to creating Guam’s signature spice profile here within the region.
Boonie peppers are well known for being VERY HOT peppers. Many local island people pick these peppers right from their own yards when preparing local dishes like finedene or keleguen, and when seasoning coconut based soups. According to cross country nurseries;
“GUAM BOONIES - very hot; Pequin/Piquin Type; 1 to 1.25 inches long by 0.5 to 0.75 inches wide; thin flesh; matures from medium green to orange to red; upright pods; green leaves; 36 to 42 inches tall; Very Late Season; Uses: Drying; from Guam; C.chinense (Cross Country Nurseries, 2008).”
Reimer Seeds describes Boonie Peppers as;
“very hot and turn from green, to orange, to red when mature. Plant has green stems, green leaves, and greenish-yellow flowers. Excellent for making hot sauce. A variety from the jungles of Guam(Reimer Seeds, 2008).”
I had been searching around for jalapeno jelly for a while, but found this wonderful boonie pepper jelly at a craft fair in early November! This sweet, spicy, and mildly sour jelly is hand made right here on Guam from local boonie peppers. It is great mixed with fluffy cream cheese and served on crackers!
Another surprising boonie pepper flavored treat that I found in my neighborhood was boonie pepper chocolate sold in Chamorro Village!
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