But the Thais quickly made it their own and now have many home - grown varieties (including the tiny but fiery
prik kee nu, or «mouse turd» pepper).
In Thailand, try to find
prik kee nu, a very small and hot chile, and prik chee fa, a larger and milder variety.
Known worldwide for their contribution to Southeast Asian cuisine, Thai chiles are called
prik kee noo in Thai.
Substitute fresh piquins, bird's eye, or the small Thai
prik kee nu chiles.
The correct variety is
prik kee nu, which means «mouse dropping pepper.»
Some sources state that this chile is also
prik kee nu, the Thai «mouse dropping pepper,» but that is a different, much thinner chile.