Chipotles are smoked jalapeno peppers and are used primarily in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines. The harder to find Chipotle "meco" chili peppers are also known as chile "meco" or chipotle tipico. The "meco" Chipotle chili pepper is larger and stiffer with a grayish-tan coloring and is best described as looking like a cigar butt. They are mature jalapeno peppers that are left on the bush even longer than those that are picked as red jalapenos to be sold at various markets. This additional time on the bush results in an even deeper red color and as these chilies start losing their moisture they're then harvested to be transformed into "meco" chipotles.
