Chile chilhuacle

A dried chile from Oaxaca. In Nahuatl (the Aztec language) chilhuacle means “old chile.” It is about the size of a small bell pepper and smooth-skinned when dried. The flavor is robust and very hot. A red variety, chilhuacle rojo, is used in Oaxacan mole coloradito, and the very dark-skinned chilhuacle negro is integral to the famous mole negro.