Pepper Profiles – Page 14

Dundicut Pepper: Pakistani Spice

Fiery and fruity…

Scoville heat units (SHU): 55,000 – 65,000
Jalapeño reference point: 7 to 26 times hotter
Origin: Pakistan
Products and seeds: Dundicut pepper on Amazon

You don’t need to search far in authentic Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine to discover the dundicut pepper. It’s a staple chili – especially for Pakistani cuisine – where it heats up curries, chutneys, and many other sauces and dishes. In fact, this chili is often called the national chili of Pakistan. Dundicuts are typically used dried and provide an extra-hot kick with a delicious layer of fruitiness.

Jwala Pepper: The Intense Flame

by Matt Bray

Potent heat, appley flavor…

Scoville heat units (SHU): 20,000 – 30,000
Jalapeño reference point: 3 to 12 times hotter
Origin: India
Seeds: Jwala pepper on Amazon

It’s impossible to enjoy authentic Indian cuisine, especially authentic curries, without partaking in the jwala pepper. Also known as the Indian finger hot pepper, the jwala is the most popular hot pepper in India, and as such it’s used in all sorts of spicy foods, both as a fresh chili as well as dried. This chili provides a very eatable medium heat to meals.

Aji Omnicolor Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses

by Matt Bray

What are Aji Omincolor peppers? There are many beautiful ornamental peppers, many of which provide terrific color to landscaping or gardens. The aji omnicolor is one, but this chili brings something extra-special to the table, literally. There’s a complex, fruity, and sweet flavor to these …

Aji Charapita Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses

by Matt Bray

What are aji charapita peppers? Tiny, yet oh so very fiery, the aji charapita has wild roots. It hails from the jungles of northern Peru, and has mainly grown wild – only recently being cultivated for commercial use. Its size is small, like an American …

Charleston Hot Pepper Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses

by Matt Bray

What are Charleston Hot peppers? For many, the cayenne pepper is already a big heat, but its cousin the Charleston Hot takes the popular cayenne to a whole different level. Bred by the United States Department of Agriculture, this cayenne variety doubles the spiciness of …

Prairie Fire Pepper Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses

by Matt Bray

What are prairie fire peppers? Prairie fire peppers may look more like little Christmas lights (or even Light Bright pegs) than chili peppers, but you’re in for a real surprise if you pop one in your mouth. There’s a surprising heat (70,000 to 80,000 Scoville heat …

Guindilla Pepper: Spanish Simmer

by Matt Bray

Perfect pickled, crisp and tart… Scoville heat units (SHU): 1,000 – 2,000 Jalapeño reference point: Near equal to 8 times milder Origin: Spain (Basque Region) Products and seeds: Guindilla pepper on Amazon The guindilla pepper is a favorite chili in the Basque region of Spain. With …

Peruvian White Habanero Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses

by Matt Bray

What are Peruvian white habaneros? The creamy white hue and small shape of the Peruvian white habanero (a.k.a. white habanero or Peruvian white lightning habanero) may make you think the chili’s heat is lesser than its orange cousins. But the white habanero packs an equal, if …

Caribbean Red Habanero Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses

by Matt Bray

What are Caribbean red habaneros? Don’t expect a typical habanero level of heat when you use a Caribbean red habanero. These chilies ratchet things up with a spiciness bordering on extreme (300,000 to 445,000 Scoville heat units). With a citrusy, slightly smoky flavor, Caribbean reds …

Purple Beauty Pepper: A Royal Bell

by Matt Bray

Beautifully colored and sweet…

Scoville heat units (SHU): 0
Jalapeño reference point: 2,000 to 8,500 times milder
Origin: South America
Seeds: Purple Beauty pepper on Amazon

There’s more to bell peppers than greens, oranges, yellows, and reds. Meet the Purple Beauty pepper – a bell pepper that ranges from royal purple to nearly black and packs in extra sweetness. Its looks make the Purple Beauty a lovely and unique sweet pepper for summer gardening. Served raw in salads they maintain their purple color, but cooking these peppers magically turns their color to a vibrant green.