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Dear Dave,
I see some hot sauses are made using pepper extract. How is this concentrated extract produced and is it possible to do at home with garden grown habaneros?
Sean
Sean:
The extract, known as oleoresin capsicum is made this way: hot chiles are furnace-dried, crushed, and pelletized. They are treated with hexane, which dissolves the capsaicin. The hexane is then evaporated, leaving an extremely hot, oily substance that can be further refined. Then it is used in pepper spray, topical analgesics, and extremely hot sauces. No, it is not possible to make it at home, but you can put your habs in a juicer and come up with an extremely hot liquid.
–Dave
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