HotPepperIndex
Cubanelle
Capsicum annuum

Cubanelle

Italy (Cuban influence)
Sweet
Also known asCubanelle Pepper · Italian Frying Pepper · Cuban Pepper
Scoville
0SHU
Heat0%
0–1k SHU · PepperScale, Chili Pepper Madness

The Cubanelle is a sweet, mild Italian frying pepper known for its long, tapered shape and excellent flavor when sautéed. It's a staple in Italian-American cooking and much milder than a bell pepper.

Long, tapered, slightly curved peppers (4–6 inches) with thin, waxy skin. Starts pale green/yellow and ripens to bright red. Thick, crisp flesh with almost no heat.

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Backstory

Developed in Italy with Cuban influence during the Columbian Exchange. Became popular in Italian-American communities in the early 20th century.

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Flavor

Sweet and tangy with a mild peppery finish and crisp texture. Ideal for sautéing — the thin skin blisters beautifully.

sweetmildtangypeppery

Culinary uses

fryingsautéingItalian dishessandwichespizza toppingsstuffed peppers

Substitutions

Anaheimbell pepper

Related variants

Appearance

Size
4-6 inches
Skin
thin, waxy
Color
pale green to red
Flesh
thick, crisp
Shape
long, tapered, slightly curved

Growing

Sun
full sun
Soil
well-drained fertile
Notes
Very productive and easy to grow
Water
consistent
Harvest
pick green or red
Plant height
2-3 ft
Days to maturity
70-80

Nutrition

Per 100g approx
Calories: 40 · Vitamin a: high · Vitamin c: very high

Origin detail

Country
Italy
Breeder
Traditional landrace

Tags

italianfrying-peppersweetmildcubanelleheirloom

Sources

Huge shout-out to the breeders, growers, researchers, and seed savers linked below — their independent work is what lets us fact-check our own. Go visit them.

These references are used to verify what we publish — not as the source of the content itself. Seed catalogs, breeder pages, research papers, and cultivar databases let us cross-check every fact before it lands here. Open any card to read the original or dig deeper.

4 sources · Added May 7, 2026, 14:50 UTC · Updated May 11, 2026, 12:22 UTC
Origins
A World of Capsicum
Peppers and their homelands. Tap a marker.
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