While most chili peppers are known for their spiciness, almost all have their underlying tones and flavors. Some have the hint of sweetness undercutting the spiciness of the chilliness, while the others are distinctly smoky when they are ripened in the sun.
Knowing about the different kinds of chili peppers can guide you through buying hot sauces and drizzles for particular dishes.
- Poblano Peppers
Also known as the ancho peppers, the poblano is an integral part of Mexican cuisine. They are mildly spicy, with Scoville heat units ranging between 1000 and 1200. They turn dark when dried, which lends a unique and intensely reddish-brown color to the sauce or the dish. They have a sweet undertone and being one of the fleshiest peppers. It adds volume and thickness to the sauce as well.
- Anaheim Peppers
Also popularly known as the New Mexican chili or the California green chili, these peppers are mild in taste when they are just budding. However, as they slowly mature, they turn a bright red color, and likewise, their spiciness increases. They are the principal ingredients in drizzles used in American Southwest cuisine.
When young, the heat intensity is around 500 units on the Scoville heat scale, but the heat can go up to 2500 units as they mature.
- Serrano Peppers
The Serrano chili peppers are small in size, but they manage to pack in quite a punch. In fact, the smaller it is in size, the greater is the heat, with the heat ranging between 6000 units and a whopping 23000 units on the Scoville heat scale.
These peppers are primarily grown in domestic plantations, and the home grown peppers are considered the best in the world. They can be cooked both in their ripe and unripe state, with the heat varying according to their stage of maturity. They are a staple in almost all Mexican and Thai dishes.
Habañero Pepper
The Habañero is known as one of the hottest chili peppers in the world. The homegrown peppers are handled with a lot of care by the locals. Being one of the hottest peppers, it has heat ranging between 150,000 and 350,000 units.
However, what makes them so distinctive in taste is their inherent fruity flavor undercutting that intense heat, making the sauces and drizzles made from it one of the most delicious in the world.
Knowing different kinds of chili peppers will help you choose the right sauces. Choose drizzles made from sun-ripened peppers as they have the most intense flavor and colors and will surely perk up your dish.
