Ancho Chilli Powder

Ancho chilli powder is made from dried poblano peppers, which are a mild to medium-hot chilli pepper native to Mexico. The peppers are dried and then ground into a fine powder. This process gives them a smoky, slightly sweet flavour and a deep red colour.

Ancho chilli powder is used to add a smoky, rich flavour and a mild heat to a variety of dishes. It is commonly found in barbecue sauces, marinades, spice rubs, and Mexican-inspired meals, particularly those featuring beef or pork. Its flavour profile makes it a versatile ingredient for enhancing savoury food products.

Ancho chilli powder is not considered a food additive and does not have an E-number. It is a dried vegetable product. Capsaicin, the compound responsible for the heat in chilli peppers, is being researched for various potential health effects, but evidence is mixed and not conclusive for specific benefits or harms at typical dietary intakes. The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) do not set specific limits for chilli powder consumption, as it is a food ingredient rather than a regulated additive.