Guntur Sannam or ''Capsicum annuum'' var. ''longum'', is a variety of

chili pepper Chili peppers (also chile, chile pepper, chilli pepper, or chilli), from Nahuatl '' chīlli'' (), are varieties of the berry-fruit of plants from the genus ''Capsicum'', which are members of the nightshade family Solanaceae, cultivated for ...

that grows in the districts of Guntur, Prakasam (

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

Warangal Warangal () is a city in the Indian state of Telangana and the district headquarters of Warangal district. It is the second largest city in Telangana with a population of 704,570 per 2011 Census of India, and spreading over an . Warangal ser ...

(

Telangana Telangana (; , ) is a state in India situated on the south-central stretch of the Indian peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the eleventh-largest state and the twelfth-most populated state in India with a geographical area of and 3 ...

), and

Khammam Khammam formally (Khammam Mettu) is the city in Khammam district of the Indian state of Telangana. It is the fourth largest city in the state. It is the headquarters of the Khammam district and Khammam mandal also. It is located about east of ...

in India. It is registered as one of the geographical indications of Andhra Pradesh (pursuant to ''Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999)''.

Origin

The Guntur Sannam pepper belongs to the species ''

Capsicum annuum ''Capsicum annuum'' is a species of the plant genus ''Capsicum'' native to southern North America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. This species is the most common and extensively cultivated of the five domesticated capsicums. The spec ...

''. It is a commercial crop used as a condiment and culinary supplement. India stands first place in the production of chilies. The state of Andhra Pradesh leads in its production, providing 46% of all chilies produced in India. The government of Andhra Pradesh started a regional research station at LAM near Guntur around 30 years ago, which also studies the uses of chili. Etymologically, the name 'Guntur Sannam' has its origin in Telugu, and indicates two facts: the origin of the fruit, and more importantly, the strong antecedents arising from

. Guntur has been associated with chilies for decades, and hence the prefix 'Guntur' for the name of this chili. The word 'Sannani' in Telugu means 'thin'.

Characteristics

The Guntur Sannam chili's unique characteristics have brought it international acclaim. The Sannam chili is traded as an ''S4 type chili'' and is mainly used for its pungency and the extraction and derivation of

capsaicin Capsaicin (8-methyl-''N''-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) ( or ) is an active component of chili peppers, which are plants belonging to the genus ''Capsicum''. It is a chemical irritant for mammals, including humans, and produces a sensation of burnin ...

, which is an active component in chilies that gives them their hot qualities. The following are the chief attributes/characteristics of Guntur Sannam chili: * The Guntur Sannam chili belongs to ''Capsicum annuum'' var. ''longum'', with long fruits (5 to 15 cm. In length) and diameter range from 0.5 to 1.5 cm. * The chili has thick skin. * The skin of the chili, when crushed, is thick, red and hot. * The chili has an average rating of 35,000 to 40,000 SHU. * The chili is red with an

ASTA The General Students' Committee (German: Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss) or AStA, is the acting executive board and the external representing agency of the (constituted) student body at universities in most German states. It is therefore consid ...

color value of about 32.11. * The content of

Capsaicin Capsaicin (8-methyl-''N''-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) ( or ) is an active component of chili peppers, which are plants belonging to the genus ''Capsicum''. It is a chemical irritant for mammals, including humans, and produces a sensation of burnin ...

is about 0.226%. * This chili is rich in

vitamin C Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits and vegetables, also sold as a dietary supplement and as a topical 'serum' ingredient to treat melasma (dark pigment spots) ...

(185 mg/100 g) and

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, res ...

(11.98 g/100 g).

Cultivation

Guntur Sannam has its peak harvesting season from December to March. The annual production of this type is approximately 280,000 tonnes. The Guntur Sannam chili has specific requirements in its means of production for attaining an optimum level of production. Guntur Sannam crops are highly prone to disease, and therefore need special care and attention to ensure a healthy, pest-free yield.

Geographical area of production

The Guntur Sannam chili is cultivated, processed, and made available mainly from the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. It is also grown in neighboring regions such as the districts of Prakasam, Warangal, and Khammam. The Guntur Sannam chili requires a warm and humid climate for its growth, and dry weather during its period of maturation. The crop can be grown at altitudes up to 2,100 meters above sea level. Black soils with a pH value from 6 to 7 and retaining moisture for long periods of time are suitable for a rain-fed crop; whereas well drained chalky, deltaic, and sandy loamy soils are good under irrigated conditions.

Grades and comparison

At least 4 grades of Guntur Sannam chilies are known to exist. They are: * Sannam Special (S.S.): light red in color, shining skin, with a length of 5 cm and more. * Sannam General (S.G.): light red in color, shining skin, with a length of 3 to 5 cm. * Sannam Fair (S.F.): blackish/dull red in color with a length of 3 to 5 cm. * Non-Specified (N.S.): This is not a regular grade and is meant to meet specific requirements of the buyers which are not covered under regular grades. Capsaicin values of some of the well-known and accepted varieties of Indian chilis are:

References