Although it is a relatively new variety, the Sugar Rush Stripey has a very unique history that spans across multiple continents. The original members of the Capsicum baccatum family, like the Aji peppers, came from South America. The Sugar Rush Peach, which is Sugar Rush Stripey’s parent, was developed in Finland around 2009. The pepper was bred further in Wales, but the mutation that turned into the Sugar Rush Stripey was actually discovered in the United States in 2017 by Tom Motta when he spotted the exotic stripes on one of his Sugar Rush Peach plants. Legendary pepper grower Chris Fowler has worked to further stabilize this variety and although some variation can still exist, it has become one of the most exciting new varieties in the pepper community.
The taste of the Sugar Rush Stripey is sweet and fruity with hints of citrus, but it finishes with the heat of a mild Habanero. Its delicious flavor and medium spice level make it a great pepper for salsa and hot sauce. Although it hasn’t officially been tested on the Scoville Scale, it is estimated to have the same heat level as the Sugar Rush Peach, which averages about 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville Heat Units. Other variegated pepper varieties which form stripes on the pods include the Fish pepper and Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry pepper.
