A prized round chilli from the hills of Nepal — small, cherry-shaped and packed with a sharp, punchy heat. Grown in clusters on a compact bush, it is a staple of Nepali kitchens, eaten fresh, pickled or ground into achar.
The Story
The Akabare khursani — known widely as Dalle khursani, and simply खुर्सानी (khursani, "chilli") in Nepali — is one of the most distinctive chillies in the world. Unlike the long tapering pods most gardeners know, this one grows small, round and cherry-like, ripening from green to a deep, glossy red.
Grown across the hills and valleys of Nepal, it carries a sharp, punchy heat with a bright, fruity edge. It is treasured in Nepali cooking — crushed fresh into achar (chilli-tomato relish), pickled whole, or dried and ground into fiery chilli powder that finds its way into almost every meal.
The plant itself is compact and ornamental, its clusters of round, upright fruit almost bauble-like against the foliage. A genuine rare heirloom, it brings a real taste of the Himalayas — and a striking look — to any warm-season chilli patch.
How Hot Is It?
A sharp, punchy heat, well above a jalapeño and comparable to a hot cayenne through to a mild habanero. The scale above is illustrative, not linear. A little goes a long way in achar.
Grower's Profile
When to Sow in Australia
Like most chillies, the Akabare khursani is warm-season and frost-tender. Start seed early under cover and transplant out only once nights are reliably warm. Use your local climate zone below as a guide.
| Climate Zone | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Darwin, Cairns |
G | G | H | H | S | S | G | G | H | H | G | G |
| Subtropical Brisbane, N. NSW |
G | H | H | H | · | · | I | I | S | S | G | G |
| Temperate Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, ACT |
G | H | H | H | · | · | I | I | I | S | G | G |
| Arid / Semi-arid Alice Springs, Mildura, WA inland |
G | H | H | · | · | · | I | I | S | S | G | G |
| Cool / Mountain Tasmania, Highlands |
G | H | H | · | · | · | I | I | I | I | S | G |
Growing Guide
Sow seed 5–8 mm deep in moist seed-raising mix. Keep at a steady 25–30°C; germination takes around 10–21 days. A heat mat or warm windowsill speeds things along.
When seedlings have a couple of true leaves, move them gently into individual pots. Keep warm, brightly lit and evenly moist to raise strong, compact young plants.
Once all frost has passed and nights are warm, harden off over a week, then plant out 35–45 cm apart in full sun and rich, free-draining soil — or into a decorative pot.
Feed every few weeks with a potassium-rich organic fertiliser to fuel a heavy cluster set. Keep watering consistent for the best flavour and heat in the ripening berries.
Harvest once the round berries have coloured to a deep, glossy red for full heat and flavour. Frequent picking keeps this compact plant cropping in flushes. Wear gloves.
Healthy Plants
Soft clusters on tips and flower buds that can spread virus. Blast off with water, encourage ladybirds, or use a mild organic soap spray, checking leaf undersides.
Tiny white flies that lift in clouds when disturbed, weakening plants and leaving sticky residue. Use yellow sticky traps and organic sprays, and keep plants well spaced.
A serious pest in many Australian regions. Use approved traps and exclusion netting, and dispose of any stung fruit promptly to break the breeding cycle.
A sunken dark patch at the base of the fruit, caused by uneven watering and calcium uptake. Keep soil moisture steady and mulch well — it is not a disease.
Pale, papery patches on exposed fruit during heatwaves. Encourage healthy leaf cover and use light shade cloth during extreme heat to protect the crop.
Seedlings collapse at the base in cold, wet conditions. Sow into warm fresh mix, avoid overwatering, and give trays good airflow and gentle warmth to prevent it.
At a Glance
| Botanical & Culinary Profile | |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Akabare Khursani, Dalle Khursani, Nepalese Round Chilli, Khursani (खुर्सानी) |
| Botanical Name | Capsicum annuum |
| Type | Rare heirloom, open-pollinated — warm-season Nepalese round chilli |
| Heat Level | Hot — approx. 35,000–100,000 Scoville Heat Units |
| Seeds Per Pack | 10+ seeds, hand-counted |
| Plant Height | Approx. 40–70 cm, compact and bushy |
| Sow Depth | 5–8 mm |
| Germination | 10–21 days at 25–30°C soil temperature |
| Spacing | 35–45 cm between plants |
| Days to Harvest | Approx. 80–100 days from transplant |
| Position | Full sun, warm, sheltered, rich free-draining soil; excellent in pots |
| Fruit | Small, round, cherry-shaped, borne in clusters; ripens green to deep red |
| Uses | Fresh achar, pickling, drying & grinding into powder (use sparingly) |
| Origin | OZ grown & hand-packed in Australia by Eternity Essential Store |
Handle With Care
These small round chillies pack real heat. The capsaicin oil can cause a painful burning sensation on skin, lips and eyes. Wear gloves when cutting fresh or dried fruit, avoid touching your face, and wash hands, knives and surfaces thoroughly afterwards.
Introduce to food in small amounts and taste as you go — a few berries carry a lot of heat. Keep fresh and dried chillies, and any home-made achar, well out of reach of children and pets.
This product is sold as seed for growing. Grow, harvest and consume the resulting chillies responsibly and at your own discretion.
Postage & Delivery
Fast dispatch in protective, moisture-resistant packaging straight to your letterbox. Combined postage on multiple seed packets — buy more and save.
Worldwide postage is available to most destinations. Delivery times vary by country and customs processing. Carefully packed to travel safely over long distances.
Every order is hand-checked and sealed in clearly labelled packets with the variety name and basic sowing notes, so you know exactly what you are planting.
It is the buyer's responsibility to check their own country's (and where relevant, their state's) import regulations, quarantine rules and biosecurity requirements before purchasing seeds.
Seeds and plant material are restricted or prohibited in some regions. Please confirm that this product can be legally imported to your location. We cannot be held responsible for items seized, destroyed or delayed by customs or quarantine authorities, and such items are not eligible for refund where loss results from local import restrictions.
By placing an order you confirm that you have checked and comply with the relevant import and biosecurity rules for your delivery address.
Ten-plus seeds can fill a sunny pot or garden bed with clusters of glossy, round, ruby-red chillies — ready for fresh achar, pickling or drying. Add this rare pack to your basket and grow something truly different.
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