New Mexico No. 9
| New Mexico No. 9 | |
|---|---|
| Species | Capsicum annuum |
| Hybrid parentage | Pasilla, Colorado, Negro |
| Cultivar group | New Mexico chile |
| Marketing names | NuMex No.9 |
| Breeder | Fabián Garcia |
| Origin | New Mexico, US |
| Heat | Low |
| Scoville scale | 1,000–1,500 SHU |
New Mexico No. 9, also known as NuMex No. 9, Number 9 pepper or simply No. 9, was the first of the New Mexican chile pod types of chile peppers. It is an heirloom chile, grown today only in special quantities in New Mexico, United States. It was also the first New Mexico chile cultivar to be bred for commercial growth. It was released to growers in 1913 by Mexican-American horticulturist Dr. Fabián García, who began selecting local breeds in 1894 for improvement. The No. 9 helped to cement chile as a staple food in New Mexican cuisine.