The Hainan Yellow Lantern, also known as the Yellow Emperor chilli, is a vibrant and intensely hot pepper cherished in Southern China. Maturing to a bright yellow hue, these plump, wrinkled pods measure approximately 5 cm in length and 3 cm in width. With a Scoville rating around 300,000 SHU, they deliver a potent heat comparable to habaneros. Beyond their fiery kick, these chillies offer a fruity flavour with a tart aftertaste, enhancing sauces and seafood dishes. Primarily cultivated in the southwest and southeast regions of Hainan Island, this Capsicum chinense variety thrives in warm climates. The Hainan Yellow Lantern is a pure strain, not a hybrid, making it a unique addition to any chilli enthusiast’s garden.
- Species: Capsicum chinense
- Scoville (SHU): Approximately 300,000
- Origin: Hainan Island, China
- Time to Fruit: 120–150 days
- Culinary Uses: Hot sauces, seafood dishes, pickling
- Parentage: Pure strain
It is a prolific producer of yellow chillies, and is usually one of my earliest fruiting Chinense varieties. This is a very tasty chilli and I use it in a variety of my hot sauces.
Pacific Gardening (verified owner) –
Highly recommend. Very healthy plant with a number of habanero-esque pods that looked like little pumpkins. Great in hot sauces.