Matt Bray 
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 …
What is the Chocolate Bhutlah? Just how hot a Chocolate Bhutlah is is up for debate, but there’s no questioning it’s among the hottest peppers in the world (roughly 2,000,000 Scoville heat units or SHU.) Some even argue this hybrid chili is even hotter than …
Chipotle powder and smoked paprika both offer a similar flavor profile and color. Both are red pepper powders with strong, smoky characters. While they are much like each other, they are not identical, so you should not expect them to provide the same results. Let’s …
What are Holy Mole peppers? Looking for the perfect chili for mole sauce making? The Holy Mole pepper is bred for the job. This delicious hybrid pepper – akin to the mole-favorite pasilla pepper – packs a delicious nutty tang and mild simmering heat (700 …
Banana peppers and jalapeños are two popular chilies, familiar to most North Americans. They are common sites in most supermarkets and are often used in similar ways. But how do they compare? Is one hotter than the other? Are their flavors similar? How do they …
What are Madame Jeanette peppers? The first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Madame Jeanette” is not likely one of the hotter chili peppers on the planet. But that’s what it is. The Madame Jeanette (a.k.a. Suriname pepper) runs from 125,000 to 325,000 …
What are rooster spur peppers? In the world of chili peppers, sometimes the tiniest chilies pack some of the bigger punches. The rooster spur pepper fits this bill. Its short, slim shape belies a cayenne pepper level spiciness (30,000 to 50,000 Scoville heat units). It’s …
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