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Chili Padi / Bird's Eye Chili / Thai pepper
Bird's Eye Chili
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Subclass: Asteridae Order: Solanales Family: Solanaceae Genus: Capsicum Species: Frutescens

Thai pepper (pronounced: Prik ki nu) in Thai refers to any of three cultivars of chili pepper, found commonly in Thailand, and also in neighbouring countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore. It is also found in India, mainly Kerala, and is used in traditional dishes of kerala cuisine (pronounced in Malayalam as kanthari mulagu).

Bird's eye Peppers

Heat: Very Hot (SR: 50,000-100,000)

The hottest form is the Bird's Eye Chili Pepper, which is also known as Chili padi. This refers to the small size of the chili that reminds people about the small size of paddy (rice), the staple food in the region. It is also known as cili padi (Malay), cabe rawit (Indonesian), phrik khii nuu (พริกขี้หนู, literally "mouse shit chili"), Thai Hot, Thai Dragon (due to its resemblance to claws), Siling Labuyo(Filipino), Ladâ, and Boonie pepper (the Anglicized name).

These tiny little fiery chilis point downward from the plant and their colors change directly from green to red. This type of chili can be found in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines but most commonly in Thailand. Although small in size compared to other types of chili, the chili padi is relatively strong at 50,000 to 100,000 on the Scoville pungency scale. Malaysia consumes about RM140 million worth of chilies each year.^{[citation needed]}

This chili is commonly found in Malaysian and Indonesian markets sold alongside the larger chili. As the small chili turns out to be hotter than the larger counterpart, this often surprises people that don't expect such a small chili would pack a very hot taste. This is the source of the Malay proverb "Kecil-kecil cili padi" and Indonesian proverb "Kecil-kecil cabe rawit", which refers to something small in size or stature that contains something unexpected for its size.

Thai Ornanmental hot peppers growing wild on Saipan.

The more decorative but slightly less pungent variety, sometimes known as Thai Ornamental, has peppers that point upward on the plant, and go from green to yellow, orange, and then red. It is the basis for the hybrid Numex twilight, essentially the same but less pungent and starting with purple fruit, creating a rainbow effect, and among the group of capsicum annuum. These peppers can grow wild in places like Saipan. Despite their size, these tiny peppers pack a VERY potent punch. A window-box can provide a perfect environment for this particular plant...Low-maintenance, high yield, diabolically hot peppers that produce for months on a single, tiny plant that never gets taller than 18".

"Thai pepper" can also refer to a different type of pepper that is non-pungent, larger, and grows hanging down. This kind of pepper is found in Thailand^{[citation needed]}.

See also: African birdseye

• Berke, Terry (2002). Proceedings of the 16th International Pepper Conference, Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. November 10–12, 2002. [1]

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