What are dried and smoked jalapeno peppers called?

Dried jalapeno peppers are called chipotles. Chipotles are ripe, red, dried, and smoked jalapeno peppers that have become a bit sweet and very hot, with plenty of smoky flavors. They are sold dried but chipotles are more commonly available in cans packed in a vinegary tomato sauce called adobo (i.e., a Spanish: marinade, sauce, or seasoning). The chiles and the sauce are quite spicy, with tons of layers of flavor.

The technique of smoke-drying jalapenos can be traced back to the early food preservation practices used in Mesoamerica, even prior to the Aztecs. The name comes from the Nahuatl word chīlpoctli, meaning "smoked chili". This form of chili was most likely encountered by Christopher Columbus on his trip to the New World and brought back to Spain, where it later spread to Europe, India, and beyond. Their self-preserving composition would have made it possible for them to survive the long journey across several oceans.

In today’s society, as in the past, chipotles are predominantly sourced from Mexico and are used primarily in Mexican and Mexican-inspired cuisines, such as Tex-Mex and Southwestern dishes. It comes in different forms, such as chipotles en adobo (stewed in adobo sauce).