Origin: Mexico. A chipotle (pronounced 'chi-pot-lee') is a smoke-dried jalape?o chilli used primarily in Mexican, Mexican-American, Tex-Mex, and Mexican-inspired cuisine. The jalape?os are dried in long smokehouses, set amongst the cultivated chilli fields, either when fully ripe & mature, or when still immature (these pale brown chipotles are in the latter category). With a mild heat level, chipotle chillies are enjoyed for their rich, sweet, smoky flavour. They are most commonly added to soups & stews & are often sold canned in a tomato sauce base