By Euni Park 

Shishito peppers! Similar to corn or heirloom tomatoes in their confirmation that summer is here! We’re just now starting to see these prolific growing peppers at the market, and it’s getting all of us excited for what’s to come. Commonly grown in Japan and found in Japanese izakayas, shishito peppers started to pop up in farmers markets in the US 20 years ago with their popularity peaking just a few years ago. They’re a type of frying pepper but different from the sweeter Italian Anaheim or Cubanelle pepper type. If you’ve ever been the one to introduce them to a friend for the first time, verbal explanation of these addictive snack peppers does no justice without tasting.