Ají panca is a Peruvian chili pepper, a variety of Capsicum baccatum. Growing about 4 inches long and 1 inch across, it has thick flesh and fruity overtones and turns deep red to burgundy when ripe.
The pepper is commonly sun-dried and sold dry, or processed into a puréed paste that is sold in jars or tubes. If deseeded and deveined, it is very mild, and is used for its flavor and color. It is also appreciated in Ecuador, mostly in dried and powdered form, and mostly sold in traditional highlands markets.