The Italian Wax Pepper is a mild pepper that starts off light green and eventually matures to red. The peppers, which have a thin skin and a crisp, moderately-thick flesh, are perfect for pickling, similar to Banana peppers and Pepperoncini peppers. The Italian Wax Pepper is often harvested when it is shorter, green, and mild. When fully mature, the Italian Wax pepper has a heat level that rivals Serrano peppers and Hungarian peppers, as it averages about 12,000 to 22,000 Scoville Heat Units. When unripe, Italian Wax peppers have a unique flavor and aroma: earthy, mild pepper flavor with a slight green vegetable taste, a little like fresh peas from the pod. When fully ripe, Italian Wax peppers have more of a citrusy overtone. When they are mature these peppers can be dried and crushed into powder, or pickled with vinegar, salt, and garlic.
