Hinkelhatz

Hinkelhatz is one of America's oldest documented heritage chillies - a Pennsylvania Dutch (Pennsylvania German) heirloom cultivated by German immigrant families since the early 18th century. The name translates from Pennsylvania Dutch as "chicken heart pepper", referencing the small heart-shaped pods. Genuine medium-to-hot heat (30,000-50,000 SHU) with sharp fruity-smoky character makes the variety distinctly more assertive than most heritage cooking peppers.

History & lineage

Hinkelhatz is among the oldest documented chilli cultivars in North America - the variety has been continuously cultivated in Pennsylvania since at least the 1730s, brought to the Pennsylvania colony by German-speaking immigrants from the Rhine Valley and Switzerland (the people now identified as Pennsylvania Dutch, though "Dutch" here is a corruption of "Deutsch" meaning German rather than referring to the Netherlands).

The Pennsylvania Dutch farming communities maintained extensive heritage vegetable gardens with distinctive German-origin cultivars, including Hinkelhatz alongside other regional heritage varieties. Continuous cultivation in Pennsylvania over nearly 300 years has produced one of America's most documented heritage chilli traditions, with the variety preserved through generations of household gardening within Pennsylvania Dutch communities.

The Pennsylvania Dutch culinary tradition has a distinctive relationship with vinegar-based preparations that defines much of the regional cooking. "Chow chow" - the iconic Pennsylvania Dutch pickled vegetable relish combining cabbage, peppers, onions, and other vegetables in vinegar brine - traditionally features Hinkelhatz as the chilli component, providing the assertive heat that distinguishes Pennsylvania Dutch chow chow from milder regional pickled relishes elsewhere in America.

The variety has spread modestly through American heirloom seed networks, with Seed Savers Exchange and similar organisations preserving Hinkelhatz alongside other Pennsylvania Dutch heritage vegetables. UK availability is limited to specialist heritage seed suppliers, but home growers report reasonable success with the variety in temperate conditions. The Pennsylvania Dutch heritage origin and the genuine medium heat make Hinkelhatz one of the more interesting American heritage chillies for serious heirloom-vegetable enthusiasts.

Culinary uses

Traditionally used in Pennsylvania Dutch vinegar preparations - "chow chow" pickled vegetable relishes and chilli-infused vinegars that are essential to the regional cooking tradition. Also used dried, ground into chilli powder, or fresh in cooking where serious medium heat is wanted. The variety occupies a particular niche distinct from milder Hungarian-American heritage peppers, offering genuine chilli character alongside the heritage cultural identity.