What does “chipotle” mean in Spanish?

You have seen “chipotle” on menus, but here the speaker shows what it really is. He says he is preparing jalapeño chiles “para hacerme unos chipotles” — to make himself some chipotles. So a chipotle is not a special plant. It is a red jalapeño that he lets ripen, then slowly dries and smokes until it turns brown and smoky. The word names the result of that slow process, nothing more.

Spoken line: “los ramitos de chile jalapeño para hacerme unos chipotles” — “the little bunches of jalapeño chile to make myself some chipotles.” A “chipotle” is a ripe jalapeño that has been dried and smoked, which gives it a deep, smoky taste. Plain examples: - “Estos chiles ya están secos.” — “These chiles are dry now.” - “Me gusta el sabor ahumado del chipotle.” — “I like the smoky taste of chipotle.” - “Voy a colgar los chiles para secarlos.” — “I’m going to hang the chiles to dry them.” Usage notes: In the clip he also says the chiles “deben de ser ahumados” (they should be smoked) and “tardan bastantito en secarse” (they take quite a while to dry) — that smoking and drying is exactly what turns a jalapeño into a chipotle.