UNIQUE CREEK HOMESTEAD SEEDS: All of our seeds are grown right here on our Unique Creek Homestead and not sourced from elsewhere. All seeds are collected each growing season and are 1-year old or less, stored in air-tight Mason jars. Seeds are harvested and labeled for storage each season, one plant/seed type at a time so seeds do not get mixed by accident during the process! The seeds we use at the start of each growing season come from the exact same seeds we sell.
ABOUT THESE SEEDS:
The Takanotsume pepper, also known as the "Hawk Claw" chili, is a variety of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum) originating from Japan. It's named for its distinctive talon-like shape. Here's a breakdown of its characteristics:
Heat level: The Takanotsume is a hot pepper, with a Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) rating typically ranging from 10,000 to 50,000. This makes it considerably hotter than a jalapeño pepper. Some sources report even higher SHU ratings, up to 100,000 SHU.
Appearance: Slender, curved, and pointed like a bird's talon.
Color: Ripens from green to a vibrant red.
Size: Typically 1.5 to 2.5 inches (4 to 6 cm) long.
Plant size: Compact, growing to about 24 inches (60 cm) tall, making it suitable for container gardening. In optimal conditions, some plants can reach up to 3 feet. 3. Flavor profileThe Takanotsume pepper is known for its intense heat, but also possesses a unique flavor profile:
Spicy and pungent: Delivers a strong, lingering heat.Hints of smoky and citrusy notes. Untypical for paprika: Some describe the taste of fresh peppers as similar to ripe, sour apples. Culinary uses: Takanotsume peppers are a staple in Japanese cuisine and can be used in a variety of ways: Fresh: Can be added to dishes for a spicy kick. Dried: Often used whole, or ground into flakes and powder. Shichimi togarashi: A key ingredient in this traditional Japanese seven-spice blend. Other Japanese dishes: Enhances curries, soups, udon noodles, and pickled Chinese cabbage. Pickling: Excellent for preserving and enjoying later.Non-Japanese cuisine: Can be substituted for regular red chili flakes in various recipes.
Growing and care
Origin: Introduced to Japan by the Portuguese in the 1800s. Cultivation: Easy to grow, even for beginners, thriving in containers or gardens.Sunlight and Soil: Requires a sunny location with well-drained, fertile soil.
Planting Time: Sow seeds indoors 8-12 weeks before the last frost date. Transplant outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.
Watering: Needs regular watering, especially during dry spells, but avoid overwatering.
Harvest: Ready for harvest in approximately 60-70 days after transplanting.
Additional facts
Heirloom variety: Takanotsume peppers are an heirloom variety, cherished for their traditional use and unique characteristics.
Ornamental Value: The plants are also considered ornamental due to their upright growing habit and clusters of brightly colored peppers.
Sow seeds in flats or pots 8 to 10 weeks prior to the expected outdoor planting date. Sow them shallowly, around 1/4 inch deep. Hot peppers, and especially super-hot peppers, have a well-earned reputation for being finicky to germinate, but you can increase germination rates by providing bottom heat (highly suggested).
Sincerely,
Scott & Melissa
Unique Primtiques Custom Woodworking
Unique Creek Homestead
ABOUT OUR UNIQUE CREEK HOMESTEAD: Our woodworking business is located on our Unique Creek Homestead, a Certified National Wildlife Sanctuary & Certified Indiana Wildlife Sanctuary located in southern Indiana, where we grow our own organic foods, gourmet mushrooms, exotic gourmet organic peppers, organic seeds, organically grown flowers, 100% pure organic Unique Creek Maple Syrup and more!
Your purchase helps us to maintain a beautiful habitat for a WIDE range of wildlife including deer herds, wild turkey, quail, pheasant, fox, opossum, raccoon, fish (bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill, rock bass, sunfish and more), Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, a wide range of song birds, hummingbirds, nesting red-winged black birds, tree swallows, a variety of Owl & Hawk species, box turtles, water turtles/snapping turtles, frogs, Golden & Blue-Tail Skinks and MANY MORE wonderful creatures that visit our homestead day and night! We are officially a LICENSED NURSERY DEALER IN INDIANA.
Takanotsume HAWKS CLAW Pepper Seeds HOT Chili 50,000+ Scoville
ALL of our seed & seasoning sales go directly toward our Indiana & Nationally Certified Wildlife Habitat funds here on our Unique Creek Homestead in southern Indiana. These sales help us maintain and improve our 15-acre wildlife habitat/property and our 3-acre lake. Wildlife on the property includes herds of wild deer, flocks of wild turkey, fox, raccoons, owl, brown bats, opossum, Cooper & Red-Tailed Hawk, a large variety of reptiles, fish, amphibians...a breeding Eastern Box Turtle population, bobcats, breeding populations of pileated woodpeckers, a variety of ducks and much more! We plant many native grasses and flowers for butterfly bee habitats and for natural pollination of our plants as well.
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