'Sweet Chocolate' Bell Pepper - Capsicum annuum

'Sweet Chocolate' Bell Pepper – compact rarity with chocolate-brown fruits. 

This variety is a compact bell pepper with uniquely colored fruits that ripen to chocolate-brown, offering a mild, sweet, and aromatic flavor. It matures early and is ideally suited for cultivation in greenhouses, protected outdoor beds, and containers. Robust, high-yielding, and open-pollinated – perfect for self-sufficiency and organic growing.

  Origin & History

'Sweet Chocolate' – an open-pollinated bell pepper from the 1960s, bred by Prof. Elwyn M. Meader in New Hampshire (USA). Meader was a renowned plant breeder and professor of horticulture who advocated for robust, freely accessible crop varieties. The variety was developed as part of an initiative to promote freely reproducible cultivars and as a deliberate statement against the increasing commercialization and industrial patenting of seeds. It thus stands as an exemplar of the fundamental right to seed freedom and the preservation of genetic diversity in vegetable cultivation.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the variety partly fell into obscurity. Today, it is fortunately being cultivated again by organic seed initiatives and preservation organizations and offered as a historical rarity.

Its hallmark features are the extraordinary chocolate-brown skin and brick-red flesh – a completely new coloration at the time, which quickly made it a horticultural curiosity. With its mild-sweet, aromatic flavor and decorative appearance, it is considered a historical rarity and a true enrichment in the variety garden. To this day, 'Sweet Chocolate' is maintained by enthusiasts and seed-preservation initiatives and is regarded as a symbol of the importance of freely accessible, non-patented crop varieties.

  Appearance & Characteristics

The plant grows compact and upright, reaching a height of about 60–80 cm. It produces numerous fruit clusters and bears vigorous, dark green foliage.

Fruit details:

• Size: Medium, approx. 80-100 g per fruit

• Shape: Blocky to elongated, about 8-10 cm in size

• Color: Chocolate-brown with brick-red flesh

• Texture: Thick-walled, juicy

• Flavor: Mild-sweet and aromatic – versatile in use

 Usage & Cultivation Highlights

'Sweet Chocolate' fruits are excellent for fresh eating, cooking, roasting, grilling, and especially for stuffing. Their mild-sweet, aromatic flavor and the extraordinary chocolate-brown skin with brick-red flesh make them a true eye-catcher in vegetable dishes, adding both visual appeal and culinary distinction.

Thanks to their compact growth and resilience, the variety thrives reliably in greenhouses, protected outdoor beds, and especially in containers. It matures early, produces abundant fruits, and impresses with its versatile use. In addition, it is easy to care for, shows good adaptability to different sites, and delivers stable yields even under changing weather conditions. Its decorative, chocolate-brown fruits ripen evenly, making the plant not only a culinary but also a visual enrichment in the garden.

Compared to other bell peppers, 'Sweet Chocolate' is compact, particularly aromatic, and highly decorative – an ideal choice for those who value open-pollinated peppers with an exceptional appearance and history.