Surely there is always a can of this type of chili in your kitchen, but do you know how it is made or which places are the main producers of this Mexican food? Here we tell you. Its Preparation It is a type of jalapeño chili that is smoked and dried in specially designed ovens for this process. It is done at low temperatures, so it takes quite a long time to be ready. Its Meaning The word 'chipotle' comes from the Nahuatl Chilpoctli and its name means 'smoked chili'. Why Does It Have a Different Consistency? Its color and wrinkled texture are due to the fact that it is allowed to ripen completely, even until it dehydrates, and when it undergoes the smoking process, it results in a concentrated red color. It Can Be Made with Another Chili Chipotle can also be obtained from morita chili, which is another variety of jalapeño chilies; however, morita is smaller and tends to be spicier. The Largest Producer of Chipotle Chili The state of Chihuahua, in Mexico, is the largest producer of chipotle chili, with almost 80% of this food being cultivated there. Therefore, there has been an effort to obtain a designation of origin for Chihuahua. Following are Veracruz, Yucatán, and Puebla as the largest producers. In What Percentage? About 20% of the jalapeño crop in Chihuahua is used to make chipotle. For every seven tons of fresh chili, one ton of chipotle is obtained. Other Varieties There is another variety of chipotle chili called 'chile meco', but this one is larger and light brown in color. It is also smoked and can be used for making moles. Choose the Ones You Like the Most You can find products with sweet chipotle, adobo, pickled, in pieces, or ground. So, don't hesitate to get them for use in your various recipes; their flavor will surely adapt to your dishes. Try them with a grilled salmon salad.