Which Bell Pepper Is the Sweetest? The Color Myth Explained
If you’ve ever stood in the grocery store staring at the pepper display and wondering what color bell pepper is the sweetest, you’re not alone. Most people assume red bell peppers are always the answer. They’re definitely sweet, but the real truth is this: which bell pepper is the sweetest depends on the variety and how ripe it is when you pick it.
So what is the sweetest bell pepper? For many gardeners, orange bells often taste even sweeter than red.
What Is a Sweet Bell Pepper?
Let’s start simple: what is a sweet bell pepper and what is sweet bell pepper supposed to mean?
A sweet bell pepper is a pepper with no heat and a crisp bite. Its sweet flavor comes from sugars that build up as the fruit matures. These are the peppers you slice for salads, roast for stuffed peppers, or toss into a quick stir fried dinner.
Why green tastes different
All bells start green. As they mature, they change into different colors of bell peppers like red, orange, yellow, purple, or chocolate-brown. When peppers are fully ripe, they’re naturally sweeter than green, which is why green bell peppers taste more grassy and less sweet.
Which Bell Pepper Is Sweetest (Orange Can Beat Red)
So, which bell pepper is sweetest and what bell pepper is the sweetest?
In general, the sweetest pepper is the one left on the plant the longest. But if you’re comparing colors, orange peppers often taste extra fruity and candy-like. That’s why gardeners debating which bell pepper is the sweetest sometimes land on orange, not red.
If you’re still comparing which bell pepper is sweeter, remember that the cultivar matters. There’s a huge range of sweet pepper varieties and bell pepper varieties, and each variety of bell pepper has its own taste.
Sweet bell peppers to grow from seed
For a garden full of sweetness, try these bell pepper seeds:
- Orange Wonder Sweet Bell Pepper Seeds (Organic)
- Golden Calwonder Sweet Pepper Seeds (Organic)
- Chocolate Sweet Pepper Seeds (Organic)
- Purple Beauty Sweet Pepper Seeds (Organic)
- Mini Bell Mix Sweet Pepper Seeds (Organic)
- Baby Belle Mini Snack/Salad Peppers Seeds
- Jewel Toned Crimson, Gold, & Orange Bell Pepper Seed Mix
- Cal Wonder Sweet Pepper Seeds (Organic) and California Wonder Sweet Bell Pepper Seeds (Organic)
Browse more sweet bell peppers in the sweet pepper seeds collection, or see every option in our full pepper seeds collection.
How to Grow a Sweeter Sweet Bell Pepper Plant
A healthy sweet bell pepper plant makes better-tasting fruit. If your pepper plants are stressed, flavor can turn flat and fruit may stay smaller.
For simple feeding tips, read Best Fertilizer for Peppers: 6 Tips for Growing Peppers. For the full season basics, our pepper growing guide is a great reference.
Harvest for peak sweetness
Want the best flavor? Let peppers ripen until they reach full color. Many peppers would taste sweeter if you gave them time to mature and turn red (or orange/yellow, depending on genetics).
This is why yellow bell peppers and orange peppers can taste sweeter than expected.
Sweet Peppers Beyond Bells
Not all sweet peppers look like bells. Some are long and thin, perfect for cooking.
If you love italian frying peppers, grow Nardello Sweet Pepper Seeds (Organic) or Marconi Red Sweet Pepper Seeds (Organic). They cook quickly and taste amazing stir fried.
Conclusion
So, what color is the sweetest bell pepper and what is the sweetest bell pepper?
Most of the time, the sweetest pepper is the one that’s fully ripe. Red bell peppers are sweet, but many orange varieties often taste even sweeter because of their higher natural sugar content.
If you’ve been asking what’s the sweetest bell pepper, try growing several colors and comparing the flavor of the plant produce at full ripeness. Taste-testing peppers harvested at their peak is the best way to discover which variety is sweetest in your garden.
