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The chili pepper is a southwestern American tradition symbolizing warmth and friendship. Clusters of vibrantly colored chili peppers, called chili ristras, add a zesty flair to home décor. When hung near the door, chili peppers ensure a bountiful harvest and when placed in the kitchen, they bring good luck in cooking. Chilies are a spicy addition to many cuisines worldwide.
RISTRA – Chile peppers that have been tied on a string and hang vertically. Available either as edible or treated. Some are sprayed with laquer or polyurethane – a practice not endorsed by most people native to the Southwest as the chilis are no longer edible and it appears to do little if anything to make the ristras last longer as decorations.
Here is a warm Tucson welcome to the New Year. We hang these chili peppers on the door at Tucson AZ Real Estate representing warmth and friendship. We hand this near the door (symbolically of course we don’t have a door) to ensure a bountiful harvest for all in 2008. This in hope it will make a good start to the New Year.
When is the Tucson Chili Pepper Festival. What is the exact date it is scheduled for 2008? Please email me back. We would like to attend. thanks for any help.
Could you tell me where I can purchase the Tuscon Chili peppers ristra?
Joanne,
Most of them are purchased from street vendors. They set up trucks full of the chilis in empty lots. They have a variety of sizes. Some are sealed to keep them looking like the ones above.
Others are not and are used one at a time in cooking till they are gone and a new bunch are purchased.
Do you know where I can purchase one of the ristras? I’m leaving to go back to California and will head for Tucson one day this week and I would like to get one. I’m staying in Tubac and is there anything in this area? Thanks for the help…Gail Gribben
Gail,
I was on the road to Denver yesterday so didn’t get to this till now. I usually see them being sold by roadside vendors. No one place I know of that I’ve seen. I know there is one along Oracle Rd I see often, but there are others I’m sure. Wish I could be more help. Hope you find them.
Dave