I rather fancy myself an Indian food aficionado, certainly not an expert, and I have never seen Byadgi chiles anywhere. Not even in the Indian markets I frequent in our Los Angeles suburb dubbed "Little India". Certainly never, ever in the mainstream MegaMarts. Heck, there I'm lucky to find habaneros or Thai bird chiles. Usually all they offer are jalapenos, serranos and Anaheims or pasillas/poblanos.

Those of course, are fresh. In the jarred Indian spice section, there are the generic "vindaloo", "masala" and "curry" pastes, but never any pastes made from just one type of chile. Same for powders. You get "garam masala" and "curry powder" and "chile powder" (very occasionally "chipotle" or "ancho" powder, but nothing more). Certainly no Indian chile powders that I've seen, at least in the MegaMarts. I will look more closely the next time I go to the Indian market.

RobertaJ thank you may be in the metro city like New York or San Francisco

i had no clue where these wrinkled chillies are called here, i've seen them in India not sure if they're available here (I'll specifically check at the local Patels, but then again, New Jersey & California are exceptions in terms of the variety of Indian ingredients available).

Panfusine when you checks in Patels ask specifically for byadgi chilli

I'll do that Pauljoseph..

Could we get an idea of how hot this chile is? Maybe that would give us possible substitutes. And hearing how other people also have found that the fresh chiles can vary so much in heat makes me skeptical of replicating this one. What makes it wrinkled, just the way it grows? And regarding paprika -- there is a hot paprika (dry, ground) -- would that help?

Just got back from the local store (which is a smaller version of the other Patels all over NJ), yes, these are readily available, did not even have to ask anyone for help. they're either labelled south Indian chillies (swad brand) or byadagi chillies (Anand brand)...sorry for the fuzzy images...taken with a cell phone

Between the excellent links from pauljoseph and package photos from Panfusine, I can find it at a store, too far but I'll get there...

Thank you Panfusine You are our Food Guru for Indian Ingredients in America.
Susan g This Dried Whole Chili is not at all very hot but MILD very good CHILI FLAVOR. FEW more SECRET methods also there before grind to powder or paste with your food procceser like how to wash and sundry removing the seeds and the top etc etc..... and make an excelent home made chili powder or paste I will take photos and post soon we never use packed chili powder

Susan_g.. I can mail you some from NJ if you want..

byadgi chill Few more picture uploaded in picasa

Cool, thanks for the photos and the alternative names. I will look more closely next time I go to the Indian market (which should be soon....). I am intrigued by your description of them Pauljoseph. They sound really yummy !