Drying of chillies
Practical Action
Drying
This is by far the most important stage of the process. If the chillies are not fully dried or if they
take a long time to dry, they will be prone to mould growth and spoilage. The sale value of
mouldy chilli can be less than 50% the normal value. In extreme cases the whole crop can be
lost.
The choice of dryer will depend on the
climate at the time of harvest and the
intended end use of the chillies. For
home use of the dried chillies, it is
preferable to use the cheapest method
available, which is sun drying.
However, sun drying is really only
practical in dry climates with plenty of
sunshine. In humid climates drying
will take too long, during which time
the chillies have the potential to spoil.
If a solar dryer is available, it is
advantageous to use it as the drying
process will be speeded up and the
end result will be a higher quality
dried chilli. Artificial dryers are only
an option if there is a guaranteed
market for the dried chillies. The
Practical Action technical briefs on
drying give a good overview of the
principles and practicalities of drying
and good advice on the choice of dryer.
Figure 2: A chimney dryer.
Figure 3: The 'Exell Solar Dryer'
Figure 3: A cabinet solar dryer.
Dying during the dry season
During the dry season, sun drying is
usually adequate to dry the produce.
The simplest and cheapest method is to
lay the produce on mats in the sun.
However, there are problems associated
with this method. Dust and dirt are
blown onto the crop and unexpected rain
storms can re-wet the crop. To improve
the cleanliness of the process, the drying
chillies should be covered with a light
gauze or muslin sheet which keeps away
the insects and dust. To help maintain a
goof red colour, the chillies should be
dried in the shade, not in direct bright
sunlight.
Alternatively a solar dryer can be used. The simplest type of solar dryer is the cabinet solar
dryer, see Figure 1, which can be constructed out of locally available materials (eg bamboo, coir
fibre or nylon weave).
For larger units (over 30kg/day) an 'Exell Solar Dryer' could be used, see Figure 2. However, the
construction costs are greater and a full financial evaluation should be made to ensure that a
higher income from better quality spices can justify the additional expense.
2