ANCHO CHILES (C01D-004588)

The Ancho Chile is sometimes mistaken for a pasilla or mulato pepper, but it is actually a dried version of the popular poblano pepper. Mostly grown in Mexico, the word "ancho" means wide, referring its flat, heart shape. Anchos are a primary ingredient in many traditional Mexican mole sauces, dating back to the origin of the sauce that was invented in the 16th century by Sor Andrea de la Asuncion, a Dominican nun in the city of Puebla. Part of the Capsicum annuum family, these peppers have been part of the human diet in the Americas since at least 7500 BC. While they are now staples in many cuisines, they were not introduced to Europe and Asia until the late 1400s when they were brought to Spain and quickly traded for their variety and as a cheaper alternative to the pricey peppercorns. Ancho chiles are one of the three "holy trinity" peppers of Mexican mole sauce, which also includes pasilla and guajillo chiles.