Ukrainian Red Midget

Ukrainian Red Midget ("puniceus minimum, pusillus"Verify source|date=July 2008 ), also disputably referred to as 'Thai Hot', is a small tree-like bush roughly 30-60 cm in height. Whilst usually a seasonal plant, it can produce fruit all year round if kept in warm, mild conditions. The plant typically produces 10 to 40 peppers at a time, which occur in three discrete stages - flower, green pepper and red (fully ripe) peppers. As a result of the fine aroma of the flowers, the plant is kept as a house plant in many parts of Eastern Europe, notably in Ukraine.

History

Some theories speculate that it was brought to Ukraine by Cossacks after their ventures to Turkey. Another theory suggests that it was brought in by Jewish settlers and then spread across the border to Ukraine. The peppers were used to flavour vodka and became a part of the traditional Ukrainian, Polish and Russian types of vodka known as "Pertsovka" or "Pertsofka" (Russian: Перцовка), "Pertsivka" (Ukrainian: Перцiвка) - derived from word "perets (Ukrainian: Перець) which means "pepper". Vodka in Ukrainian is "Horilka" (Ukrainian: Горiлка) which shares the same root with the word gority"' (Ukrainian: Горiти) - meaning 'to burn'.

Geographically, the pepper travelled to Ukraine via the Middle East from South-East Asia by means of the Silk Road.

Harvesting

Peppers are harvested in two different ways; in their ripe stage and still fresh or after they have dried.