Pasilla negro chillis—the dried form of the long chilaca pepper—boast a slender, heavily wrinkled, and almost black skin that earns them the name "little raisin."
They offer a mild to gentle medium heat, measuring between 1,000 and 2,500 Scoville Heat Units. Their flavour profile is uniquely herbal, deeply earthy, and complex, with rich notes of raisins, dried prunes, and a hint of dark chocolate.
As a crucial member of the Mexican culinary "holy trinity" alongside ancho and mulato chilis, they are prized for adding deep colour, thick texture, and a savoury, savoury-sweet depth to traditional mole negro, rich adobo marinades, authentic tortilla soup broth, and slow-cooked meat stews.
