Tianjin Red (Facing-Heaven) Chilli
Cluster-type facing-heaven (朝天椒) chillies at roughly 30,000–50,000 SHU — the mainstream high-heat whole chilli and powder for export, shipped through the Tianjin trading hub.
Indicative price: USD 1,500–1,800 per metric ton, FOB Qingdao — MOQ, packing and specification confirmed on quotation.
What is Tianjin red chilli?
Tianjin Red is the name exporters use for facing-heaven (朝天椒) chillies traded through Tianjin, one of China's largest chilli collection and export ports. The pods are small, cluster-type and grow pointing upward — the feature that gives the group its name. Heat sits at roughly 30,000–50,000 SHU: above the medium band and just below the extra-hot Jixin and Xiaomi.
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Heat (SHU) | 30,000 – 50,000 (medium-high to high) |
| Region | Collected/exported via Tianjin |
| Fruit type | Cluster-type, upward-pointing pods |
| Best for | Export whole, powder, flakes, segments |
"Tianjin Red / facing heaven" is a trade and shape designation, not a single variety; SHU is a representative range (LOW–MEDIUM confidence) that varies by origin. Confirm your target SHU window with us.
What is Tianjin red used for?
- Whole dried chillies for food service and retail
- Chilli powder and flakes for seasoning
- Chilli segments for soups and stews
- Hot sauce and chilli oil bases
Facing heaven is a shape, not a heat level
This is the point most buyers miss. "Facing heaven" (朝天椒) describes a pod shape — cluster-type pods that point upward as they mature — not one botanical variety with one fixed heat. Across different origins, facing-heaven chillies span from roughly 30,000 to over 50,000 SHU. So an order for "facing-heaven chilli" without an origin and a SHU window is underspecified: two suppliers can both ship "facing heaven" and deliver pods 20,000 SHU apart. If batch consistency matters, lock the origin and the SHU window — or switch to a named variety like Sanying.
Tianjin Red vs Sanying vs Zidantou
| Item | SHU | What it locks |
|---|---|---|
| Tianjin Red / facing heaven | 30,000 – 50,000 | Shape + heat band (trade designation) |
| Sanying (Tianying) | 20,000 – 50,000 | Named variety (Henan/Hebei) |
| Zidantou (Bullet) | 20,000 – 50,000 | Named variety, thick flesh for powder |
Use a named variety (Sanying or Zidantou) when you need a locked, reproducible profile batch-to-batch. Use "Tianjin red / facing heaven" when you want a general high-heat facing-heaven spec and are less concerned with pinning a single origin.
What most guides skip about Tianjin red
Most guides present facing-heaven chillies as one fixed heat level. What they skip is that the name describes geography and shape, not genetics — so the same label covers a 20,000-SHU heat spread. The actionable takeaway: treat "Tianjin red" as a category you then tighten with an origin and a SHU window, exactly as you would tighten "red wine" with a grape and a region.
How to specify Tianjin red
Name the form (whole, powder, flakes or segments), the target SHU window, origin if known, mesh (for powder, 60–80 standard) and moisture (under 13%). Because the label is broad, the SHU window is what actually pins the product down.
Buyer Specification
The matrix below is confirmed together before quotation — our typical range against your target. Where a value reads Confirm specification, we set it to your requirement and document it in the quotation.
| Specification | Typical / available |
|---|---|
| Product form | Confirm specification |
| Variety | Tianjin Red |
| Heat level (SHU) | 30,000–50,000 |
| ASTA colour value | Confirm specification |
| Mesh size | 60–80 mesh (powder) |
| Moisture | <13% |
| Processing | Confirm specification |
| Certifications | ISO 9001 & HACCP standard — BRC, Halal, Kosher on request |
Values are representative ranges. Packaging (bulk, retail or OEM), MOQ and the document set (COA, batch traceability, phytosanitary) are confirmed on inquiry — always confirm your exact target specification before a final order.
In the same 30,000–50,000 SHU band
Other varieties in this band: Sanying, Zidantou. See the 30,000–50,000 SHU band.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tianjin red / facing-heaven chilli?
Tianjin Red is the export name for cluster-type facing-heaven (朝天椒) chillies shipped through Tianjin — small upward-pointing pods at roughly 30,000–50,000 SHU, the mainstream high-heat whole chilli and powder for export.
How hot is Tianjin red / facing-heaven chilli?
Roughly 30,000–50,000 SHU — above the medium band and just below the extra-hot Jixin and Xiaomi (50,000–70,000). Because 'facing heaven' is a shape, exact SHU depends on origin.
Is facing heaven a variety or a shape?
A shape. 'Facing heaven' (朝天椒) describes cluster-type upward-pointing pods, not one variety. Heat spans 30,000–50,000+ SHU across origins, so a 'facing heaven' order without origin and SHU is underspecified.
What is Tianjin red used for?
An export workhorse: whole dried chillies, chilli powder, flakes and segments for hot sauce, seasoning and food service. Its consistent medium-high heat and compact pod make it a dependable general-purpose high-heat chilli.
Tianjin red vs Sanying — what is the difference?
Both are facing-heaven-style high-heat chillies. Sanying is the named regional variety (Henan/Hebei); 'Tianjin red' is a trade/export designation. Specify Sanying for a locked variety, Tianjin red for a general spec.