Guntur Sannam facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Guntur Sannam chilli
Species	Capsicum annuum
Origin	India
Heat	Hot
Scoville scale	35,000–40,000 SHU

The Guntur Sannam chili is a special type of chili pepper. It grows mainly in certain areas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states in India. It's so unique that it's officially recognized as a product special to its region, like a famous cheese or wine.

Where Guntur Sannam Chilies Come From

The Guntur Sannam chili is part of the Capsicum annuum plant family. People grow it as a crop to use in cooking and as a spice.

India is the world's biggest producer of chilies. The state of Andhra Pradesh grows almost half of all the chilies in India. About 30 years ago, the government of Andhra Pradesh started a research center near Guntur to study chilies.

The name 'Guntur Sannam' comes from the Telugu language. 'Guntur' is the name of the place where it's grown. The word 'Sannani' in Telugu means 'thin', which describes the shape of this chili.

What Makes Guntur Sannam Chilies Special

The Guntur Sannam chili is famous around the world because of its unique features. It's known as an 'S4 type chili'. People use it mainly for its strong heat and to get capsaicin. Capsaicin is the natural chemical that makes chilies taste hot!

Here are some main things about Guntur Sannam chilies:

• They are long, usually about 5 to 15 centimeters (2 to 6 inches) in length. They are also thin, about 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) wide.
• They have thick skin.
• When you crush the dried chili, its skin is thick, red, and very hot.
• The heat level of this chili is usually between 35,000 and 40,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). This is how we measure how hot a chili is.
• It has a bright red color, with an ASTA color value of about 32.11.
• It contains about 0.226% capsaicin, the hot chemical.
• This chili is also good for you! It has lots of vitamin C (185 mg per 100 grams) and protein (11.98 grams per 100 grams).

How Guntur Sannam Chilies Are Grown

The best time to harvest Guntur Sannam chilies is from December to March. Farmers produce around 280,000 tonnes of this chili every year.

Growing Guntur Sannam chilies needs special care. These plants can easily get sick, so farmers must pay close attention to keep them healthy and free from pests.

Where Guntur Sannam Chilies Grow Best

The Guntur Sannam chili is mostly grown and sold from the Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh. It also grows in nearby areas like Prakasam, Warangal, and Khammam districts.

This chili needs a warm and humid climate to grow well. It also needs dry weather when it's time for the chilies to ripen. It can even grow in places up to 2,100 meters (about 6,900 feet) above sea level.

Black soils that hold moisture well and have a pH value from 6 to 7 are good for crops that only get rain. For crops that are watered by farmers, well-drained soils like chalky, delta, and sandy loamy soils are best.

Different Types of Guntur Sannam Chilies

There are at least four main types, or grades, of Guntur Sannam chilies:

• Sannam Special (S.S.): These are light red and shiny, usually 5 centimeters (2 inches) or longer.
• Sannam General (S.G.): These are also light red and shiny, but shorter, from 3 to 5 centimeters (1.2 to 2 inches) long.
• Sannam Fair (S.F.): These chilies are a bit darker, blackish or dull red, and are also 3 to 5 centimeters (1.2 to 2 inches) long.
• Non-Specified (N.S.): This isn't a regular type. It's used for special orders that don't fit the other grades.

Here's how the capsaicin (the hot part) in Guntur Sannam compares to some other Indian chilies: