Two of the hottest peppers in the world: Pepper X and the Carolina Reaper. These super-hots blow the heat of nearly all other chilies out of the water. But which is hotter? And how do they compare in popularity, taste, and looks? Let’s break down …
Nam prik pao and sambal oelek are two of the most beloved chili pastes from Southeast Asia. Neither is excessively hot and both share a similar bright red color; however, you would be wrong to assume that these chili pastes are even close to identical …
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 – …
Old Bay seasoning and Cajun seasoning are two regionally iconic American spice blends. Old Bay comes from Maryland; Cajun seasoning is associated with parts of Louisiana. The two differ strongly in their intended effects on food, although both are flavorful and have several ingredients in …
One’s a staple and the other is an up-and-comer in terms of spice rack popularity. They share a similar look and a fine powder grind. But how similar are chipotle powder and chili powder beyond these simple traits? Is one spicier? Should you expect comparable …
Gochujang and sriracha are two chili pepper preparations that look similar and offer similarly understated spice levels. Gochujang is sometimes referred to as Korean sriracha; however, they have some important differences and are not interchangeable. Let’s compare these two fiery condiments so that you can …
Pickled jalapeños and fresh jalapeños will both enhance a meal if what you want is a medium to mild heat. But while it’s all jalapeño here, the flavors couldn’t be more different. If you are trying to choose between them, it is helpful to recognize …
Fermented hot sauce and unfermented hot sauce are the two main options when making (or purchasing) hot sauce. The two processes result in very different products even though the ingredients are very similar. Let’s break down the differences between the two in simple terms, so …
As they relate to chili peppers, the terms genus and species are used to classify plants according to their characteristics. Whether you are an enthusiastic lover of hot peppers or a curious cook, it is a good idea to have an understanding of the science …
Names don’t come any bigger in the world of hot sauce than Tabasco and Sriracha. One’s an American staple with more than a century of history, the other a comparative upstart that’s captured the imagination of a generation of foodies. But how else do they …