Online sources for high quality dried whole chiles

August 21, 2022 3:17 PM

Are there any online sites that sell really good quality dried whole chiles (ancho, guajillo, pasilla, etc.) for Mexican-style dishes? I find that the ones in the grocery storse here seem to have been sitting so long that they've turned to sawdust and we don't have any good Mexican grocery stores convenient. I am at this point fine paying a stupid amount for shipping if the product is good. I'd be shipping to the US.
posted by primethyme to Food & Drink (12 answers total)

Best answer: I’ve had fine luck with peppers from Penzeys, but I am not a connoisseur of dried peppers, so I may not know what I’m missing.
posted by mumkin at 3:34 PM on August 21, 2022 [4 favorites]

Best answer: Los Chileros
posted by Bottlecap at 3:35 PM on August 21, 2022

Best answer: Looks like they are mostly sold out at the moment, but Rancho Gordo is extremely good quality. Their heirloom beans are also amazing.
posted by amusebuche at 4:22 PM on August 21, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: These are not specifically Mexican, but Diasporaco and Fly By Jing both have chilis.
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 5:05 PM on August 21, 2022

Best answer: Weird call but do you have Aldi and have you tried their dried Ancho and Guajillo peppers?

As above, I am no expert but they turnover fast here in IL and I have never doubted their freshness, but I can't speak to the varietal or flavor profile per se.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:41 PM on August 21, 2022

Best answer: Friend of a friend runs a pepper farm in California. They mainly sell jarred spices but if you scroll down there are whole peppers as well. Family owned operation, the owners see every order that comes through and are often packing them up as well. I was very pleased with my order from them.

https://www.boonvillebarn.com/collections/farm-to-jar
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 7:23 PM on August 21, 2022 [7 favorites]

Best answer: Definitely check out NSAID’s link above. Haven’t cooked much with dried peppers, but those look good.
posted by Windopaene at 8:09 PM on August 21, 2022

Best answer: Ole Rico will probably do you pretty good
posted by Jon_Evil at 10:04 PM on August 21, 2022

Best answer: I've found some really nice smoked chilies at Native Seeds.
posted by Rufous-headed Towhee heehee at 2:55 AM on August 22, 2022

Best answer: I'm picky about chiles and regularly order from Spices, Inc despite having good access to Mexican markets. They have reasonable pricing, a simple list by heat level, and good quality. The key thing with dried whole chiles is they should be pliable, like leather; if they're brittle they are stale. These are great.

That being said it's just about chile season in North America right now, so you might want to wait a couple of months for the abundance of dried chiles that are about to come.
posted by Nelson at 8:16 AM on August 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Our go-to is a local (to us) store that specializes in dried chiles and chile powders, but which also does mail order: Pendery's.
posted by telophase at 10:16 AM on August 22, 2022

Response by poster: Many great leads here. Thank you all!
posted by primethyme at 7:01 PM on August 22, 2022