Ingredient Information

Hot Peppers

There are dozens of hot peppers available to you and, if you are so inclined, there are even hot pepper societies for the appreciation of these spicy delicacies. (See Hot Sauce for an explanation of Scoville Units.)

Practically speaking, you will find only a handful of pepper types in a typical grocery store. The most common in the U.S. markets (from mild to hot) are:

Mild – 1,000 – 2,000 scoville units
Poblano
Ancho (smoked poblano)

Medium to hot – 2,000 – 5,000 scoville units
Jalapeno
Chipotle (smoked jalapeno)
Serrano

Very Hot – 1,000,000 – 3,000,000 scoville units
Scotch Bonnet
Habanero
Thai