Sandia chile is another New Mexican Hatch grown chile. While it’s generally considered to be a hot New Mexican pod type, its heat level falls in the medium heat range of chiles. Like most chile peppers, they start green and ripen to red. Sandia chiles grow to about 6-7” long and they’re often referred to as NuMex Sandia or NuMex Sandia Select. The Sandia chile was released by Dr. Roy Harper in 1956 by cross breeding a Numex No.9 type (originally developed by Dr. Fabian Garcia) with a Californian Anaheim-type chile. Sandia chiles have a mild fruity sweetness that brings to mind the Anaheim chile, the flavor is not too sweet and the heat is not overpowering. An excellent choice where you would use a red chile powder in any southwest style dish as well as in chili, soups, and stews.