Ristra

A ristra drying.
Ristras of jalapeños, other chili peppers, and garlic at a market in Montreal.

A ristra is an arrangement of drying chili pepper pods. Ristras historically served as a functional system of drying chile for later consumption. Today, ristras are commonly used as a trademark of decorative design in the state of New Mexico, however, many households still use ristras as a means to dry and procure red chile.

Garlic can also be arranged into a ristra for drying and curing after the bulbs have matured and the leaves have died away.

See also