[3] However and since this pepper is primarily harvested from wild stands in the Mexican desert,[3] the heat level of the fruit can vary greatly from year to year, depending on the amount of natural rainfall that occurs during the time the fruits are forming.

Around 50 tons are estimated to be harvested commercially annually in Mexico, primarily in Sonora.

This stands in contrast to the domesticated 'Pequin' variety, which is the same size as the wild tepin, but is oval-shaped, and delivers a decidedly different experience.

glabriusculum is native to the Sonoran-Arizonan desert and can be found in Texas, Arizona, Louisiana and Florida in the Southern United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and Colombia.

[2] It prefers well-drained soils, such as silty or sandy loams, and 800–2,000 mm (31–79 in) of annual precipitation in Puerto Rico.

Located in the Rock Corral Canyon near Tumacacori, Arizona,[12] the preserve protects a large C. a. var.