Arbol (tree in Spanish) is known to be the hottest of the classic mexican chilis! Along with the heat comes a delicious bright flavour. When it’s fresh, it’s known as Rat’s tail or Bird’s peak chilis (Cola de rata, Pico de Paloma) 

When it’s ground, it can be great alternative to cayenne pepper!

To maximize flavour, it is recommended that you rehydrate them or grind them. 

Steps to rehydrate:

1. Start by searing them on a pan
2. Remove the stem and the seeds
3. Place in boiling water until the texture is soft

Extra tip: add some onions to the water, then transfer directly to the blender along with some tomatoes and a splash of the same water.

This is the base ingredient for many delicious sauces! 

Steps to grind:

1. Remove the stems and most of the seeds
   
2. Cut into smaller pieces
3. Grind using a coffee grinder
   
   

Extra tip: We don’t recommend using the same coffee grinder for coffee later! Unless you like really HOT coffee 

Heat lovers: if spice is your priority, we actually recommend leaving the seeds and only removing the stems. In that case, rehydrating the chilis is a better alternative over grinding them because the process of searing them on the pan will bring out the spice.

Our mission at Sombrero is to offer you the rich flavours from Latin America with Canadian standards of quality. Share your experience with us on Instagram @sombrero_latin_flavors