Q: Hi Dave,I have two questions.1) I love fresh hot peppers (cayenne, Anaheim, jalapeños) and hot sauces too. I can handle a good bit of heat but not super heat. Just to give you a reference point, Tabasco’s Habanero Sauce is about my level of heat. When I’m eating peppers or hot sauce I get the hiccups quite often. Why? …
Chiltepin or Piquin?
Q: Dear Dave,I have a pepper plant growing in a pot I got from my mother-in-law. I want to say its a chiltepin since I saw a picture of what looked like the same plant on www.chileplants.com, but someone told me that it was a piquin. Is there a difference between these peppers or are they the same thing? I …
Are Ornamental Chillis Edible?
Q: Hello Dave,We just bought an ’ornamental chilli’ but were told that the chillis are not to be eaten. Is this true? They look so yummy. They are three different colors–red, orange and creamy white. Kind regards, Janet A: Hello Janet:All chillis, chiles, or chilis of any kind, including ornamentals, are edible. I don’t where the rumor started that the ornamental …
Pimiento de Padrón
Q: Hello Dave,I heard on a television cookery program (by Rick Stein) that there is a certain pepper which, although not hot and spicy, every so often is very fiery (almost like playing Russian Roulette with chiles). Have you by any chance heard of such a pepper? I think it is grown around Spain, but I am not sure.Thank you …
Habanero Taste-Alikes
Q: Hello Dave,I am growing lots of habaneros (orange and red savana) and just love the flavor. Can you tell me which other pepper varieties have similar flavors? I’m interested also in what varieties produce very bushy plants with lots of pods. Thanks again for such great advice.Regards, Mark A: Hello Mark:Habaneros are members of the Capsicum chinense species, and all …