Matt Bray 
The Apollo pepper is a newer super-hot pepper gaining quick notoriety for its extreme heat. The ghost pepper has been famous in the US and Europe for about two decades now for its wicked spiciness and fun name. Which of these chilies is hotter? How …
There’s a real depth to the flavor of an ancho coffee rub. Espresso provides a rich, earthy, and deliciously bitter base. And the ancho powder doubles down on the earthiness, with undertones of smoky and sweet. Plus, there are hints of garlic and mustard beneath …
Here’s the simple truth: Any homemade taco seasoning is going to be much healthier than those store-bought packets. Those packets contain preservatives, anti-caking agents, and other non-spice ingredients to prolong their shelf-life. So if you’re looking for a typical homemade taco spice mix, take a …
Harissa and sriracha have been trendy over the last decade or so, but with sriracha being the more popular of the two by far. If you are unfamiliar with both, note that there are several important differences despite how much harissa and sriracha can – …
A staple spice in Korean cooking, gochugaru consists entirely of dried chili peppers that have been deseeded. Gochu translates to chili pepper and garu means powder so the spice’s name literally means chili powder. The best hot peppers for gochugaru are those that have been …
Black pepper and red pepper are both fundamental spices in food cultures all over the world. Black pepper comes from the Kerala region in Southern India while red pepper comes from Central America. While both of these spices play similar roles — they provide heat …
Chile de arbol and cayenne peppers share some characteristics but aren’t exactly alike. How can you tell them apart? Which is hotter? Which will you be able to find more easily? Let’s compare. Where did each pepper originate? The chile de arbol is believed to …
You may see sambal oelek near Sriracha, that ever-popular hot sauce, but do you know what it is? Is it a hot sauce? A chili paste? Something else? How spicy is it? And what flavor should you expect? Let’s dive into what makes it tick. …
What are Kashmiri chilies? There are few fruits or vegetables as colorful as chilies in general, though the Kashmiri chili puts even the most colorful hot peppers to shame. With a vibrant red hue and very eatable mild heat (1,000 to 2,000 Scoville heat units …
What are Satan’s Kiss peppers? The Satan’s Kiss pepper (a.k.a. Baccio de Satana) has a playful look: small and round, cherry pepper-like. But its name should warn you that there’s something hidden behind its cute facade. Yes, this Italian heirloom pepper has a surprising punch …