First They Are Not Chile Peppers
Chile or Pepper, not Chile Pepper. Confusing right?
So how did this confusion begin?
Well, it began in Mexico. The word Chile is Spanish for Pepper. In English we would say the Jalapeno pepper and in Spanish it would be Chile Jalapeno. A sweet pepper in Spanish would be Chile Dulce.
See the problem with Chile Pepper? Pepper Pepper!
No matter how you view it or what name you call it by it's Hot!
Knowing How Hot A Pepper Is
1912, Wilbur Scoville created a rating system for the heat of peppers. Sweet peppers rate zero on the Scoville Heat Unit scale, while most hot peppers rate in the thousands and top out at about 60,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Some are only slightly hot, while others are considered "5 alarm" peppers.
Today a more scientific and accurate method called liquid chromatography is used to determine capsaicin levels. In honor of Dr. Wilbur the unit of measure is still named Scoville.
Today a more scientific and accurate method called liquid chromatography is used to determine capsaicin levels. In honor of Dr. Wilbur the unit of measure is still named Scoville.
Eating Peppers For Weight Loss
A small study was conducted with the aid of a registered dietitian and a UCLA internist. Fourteen subjects ate a low-fat diet with and without chilies. During the 56 days in which volunteers ate chilies, participants lost an average of 9.4 pounds. By comparison, in the phase of the study in which they did not eat chile's, volunteers lost only nine-tenths of a pound. Allison said subjects also reported fewer cravings for fat and sweets during the Chile phase.
Peppers Are Beautiful
these would go well with my photo of the "HOT chile peppers Heart wreat...
Our first baby chile peppers are growing! I can almost taste the salsa =;-) Var...
Nothing like 20 degrees F. to make a chile pepper curl up its toes.
We saw lots of hanging chile peppers in Arizona, but the ones in this market loo...
Peppers And Their Health Benefits
According to the scientists at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the tests showed the potential of repressing the growth of the cancer cells in humans. "Capsaicin had a profound anti-proliferative effect on human prostate cancer cells in culture," said the institutes's Soren Lehmann. "It also dramatically slowed the development of prostate tumors formed by those human cell lines grown in mouse models,"
Peppers have been used to treat ailments such as:
toothaches
painful joints
frostbite
to stop bleeding
These and many more Medical uses have been reported. The main ingredient of the pepper this is associated to is Capsaicin. If you want more information on using Capsaicin you can do a word search.
Fresh or lightly cooked peppers are rich in Vitamin C; indeed this was first isolated in Hungary from bell pepper.
Peppers have been used to treat ailments such as:
toothaches
painful joints
frostbite
to stop bleeding
These and many more Medical uses have been reported. The main ingredient of the pepper this is associated to is Capsaicin. If you want more information on using Capsaicin you can do a word search.
Fresh or lightly cooked peppers are rich in Vitamin C; indeed this was first isolated in Hungary from bell pepper.
Classifying Types Of Peppers.
There are a number of different ways to classify Peppers. The most common is Mild and Hot. Most seed providers classify peppers as Sweet and Hot. I have heard people while eating peppers classify them in many different ways, but I can not include those classifications here.
For this guide I will classify peppers by the following
Sweet peppers 0 - 500 Units
Mild Peppers 500 - 2500 units
Hot Peppers 2500 - 10,000 units
Extreme Peppers 11,00 to 750,000 units
For this guide I will classify peppers by the following
Sweet peppers 0 - 500 Units
Mild Peppers 500 - 2500 units
Hot Peppers 2500 - 10,000 units
Extreme Peppers 11,00 to 750,000 units
Grow Your Very Own Peppers
You can grow your very own Peppers starting from these tiny little seeds.
Cherry Peppers
Sweet Peppers - 0 - 500 Units
- Banana Pepper 500 units
A banana-shaped pepper that changes from pale to deep yellow or orange as they mature. These are easily confused with hotter yellow wax peppers. Sample before using. Sweet banana peppers are sweet, long, tapered, yellow and banana-shaped, hence the name. Sweet Banana peppers may be fried or sautéed, used raw on relish platters, in salads, sandwiches or stuffed. - Cherry Pepper 0 - 500 units
Cherry peppers measure about 1 3/4 inch in diameter. The heat ranges from moderately mild to medium heat with traces of sweetness. Peppers are fleshy and heavily seeded. It matures from green to red. - Pepperoncini 100 to 500
Pepperoncini are typically used in sandwiches, salads (particularly Greek salad, tossed salads served in pizzerias, and antipasto platters), and as a garnish to lend dishes a crunchy texture and salty taste. - Pimento 0
The Pimento, Pimiento, or Cherry Pepper is a variety of large, red, heart-shaped chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) that measures 3 to 4 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide (medium, elongate). The flesh of the pimento is sweet, succulent and more aromatic than that of the red bell pepper. Some varieties of the pimento type are hot, including the Floral Gem and Santa Fe Grande varieties. - Bell Pepper 0
Bell peppers are a great source of vitamin C. Green bell peppers have about 50% more vitamin C than navel oranges by weight, and red bell peppers have about twice as much
Mild Peppers 500 - 2500 units - Best For Most People
- Anaheim Chile 500 to 2,500 units
These large mild chile's have a thick skin, and are usually a bright, shiny green. Available year-round in most supermarkets, they're best in the summer. The flavor ranges from mild and sweet to moderate hot,they can vary greatly from pepper to pepper. They are perfect for chile's rellenos, dice or puree them for sauces, soups, and casseroles - Poblano Pepper 1,000 - 2,000 units
A large mild, heart-shaped pepper that has thick walls, which make them great for stuffing. Because it is a rather mild pepper, it can be used in quantity to add a deep rich flavor to any chili creation. Best in the summer. - Ancho 1,000 to 2,000
The Ancho is the dried version of the Poblano pepper. When dried, the poblano pepper is known as ancho pepper. Poblano peppers are great "every day" cooking peppers. They can be used to flavor a great number of dishes with their fantastic rich taste. - NuMex Big Jim 500 to 2,500
This jumbo hot pepper produces 8" pods that are thick-walled, medium hot and perfect for roasting, canning or drying. This variety was developed in New Mexico, and produces big yields of peppers that are big on flavor and size! - Pasilla 1,000 ~ 2,000
The pasilla is part of the legend of the origin of mole sauces, which also contain anchos. Because it is very flavorful, the pasilla is a favorite of Mexican moleros, cooks who specialize in preparing unique mole sauces. The pasilla is mainly used in the dried pod or powder form in sauces such as moles and adobos. It adds an interesting taste and color to standard red chile enchilada sauce as well.
Your Very Own Pepper Plants
Perhaps you would prefer to grow your own Peppers starting with plants.
Habanero Pepper
Hot Peppers 2500 - 10,000 units Begin Using Caution
- Fresno Pepper 5,000 units
Bright green, changing to orange and red when fully matured, Fresno chilies have a conical shape - about 2 inches long and 1 inch in diameter at the stem end. Similar to jalapeno peppers, but with thinner walls, they're great in salsas. Fresnos are available in the summer. the hotter red ones come out in the fall. - Jalapeno Pepper 2,500 - 8,000 units
These popular chiles have a good amount of heat and rich flavor. Green jalapenos are best in the late summer, while red jalapenos appear in the fall. Canned jalapenos aren't as fiery as fresh. - Mirasol Pepper 2,500 - 5,000 units
This thin-skinned pepper can vary more than any other Chile in looks, and therefore may be hard to recognize. Sometimes small, sometimes large, smooth or wrinkled, it is quite inconsistent. Known for its distinct berry like, fruity flavor that enhances potatoes chicken, and pork. Spices up hot salsas, stews, and mole sauces. - Chipotle, Dried Jalapeno Peppers 5,000 to 8,000 units
ChipotleChipotle is not actually a name for any particular pepper, but it applies to a smoking process to dry them. Usually mature jalapenos are selected to be smoked-dried, making them significantly hotter than the immature green pepper. Chipotals enhances and imparts a great smoky flavor. - Rocotillo Chile 1,500 - 2,500 units
These chile's look like tiny bell peppers and have black seeds. They have an interesting fruity flavor.
Peppers - A View For Hot Times
Such pretty peppers!
this is an old picture- i don't know why i didn't post it originally. i think i...
Extreme Peppers 11,00 to 750,000 units - Specialty Items
- Cayenne Pepper 30,000 to 50,000 units
A wrinkled, very pungent thick fleshed fruit, 6 inches long and 1-1/4 inches in diameter, they are often used in Cajun recipes. . Very pungent, even when small. The Cayenne derived its name from the Cayenne district of French Guiana. Used for sauces, dried, pickled or in salsas. Green cayennes appear in the summer, while hotter red cayennes come out in the fall. - Habanero Pepper 150,000 to 575,000 units
For the uninitiated even a tiny piece of Habanero would cause intense and prolonged oral suffering. Underneath the heat is a delicate plum-tomato apple-like flavor. - Serrano Pepper 8,000 - 22,000 units
A small, rich, waxy green peppers change to orange and red as they mature. They are about 1 ½" long with thin walls and the smaller they are, the more kick they have. - Thai Chile 50,000 - 100,000 units
For such a small chile, it packs an incredibly fiery punch. Thai chiles range in color from red to green when fully mature. They are often used in Asian curries. - Naga Jolokia 800,000 to 1,001,300
I do not even want this pepper in my neighborhood, let alone in anything I eat. I have not seen or even dreamed of a use for this Pepper other than the Worlds Record.
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Peppers
Fired Up! - Roast Peppers
Fired Up! - Roast Peppers with CIAProchef.com
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Think This Is Hot - Wait Till You See These
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H is for Hot Peppers
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Hot peppers, or chili peppers, were first cultivated by the people of Central and South America as far back as 3000BC. Christopher Columbus is largely credited for introducing pepper seeds to Europe in 1493. Since that time, the popularity of hot pep...
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Everything you wanted to know about chili peppers.
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In the past, after harvest in the late summer and early fall large chile peppers were strung to dry so that chile would be available for cooking year round. Today chili pepper ristras are still used for this purpose, but are also often hung in front...
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Green Chile - Yum!!
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Having grown up in New Mexico, my husband was stunned to discover you couldn't order green chile on your pizza in Texas. While in NM, almost every restaurant offers something with green chile on it, it's almost unheard of anywhere outside the state....
Peppers Have People Talking
Check out what people are saying about Peppers.
On The Hot Side
Welcome to my corner of the world
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Orphie_G
Great lens. I believe the chile has now taken over the title of the "perfect food" from the banana! Check out my group The Burn. Posted July 20, 2008 |
lisa
hello everyone one that is reading dis graet facts on peppers and also great recipes on it as well
love lisa
Posted June 18, 2008
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KimGiancaterino
Beautiful photos... and don't worry. There's room for a peck of pickled pepper lenses on Squidoo! Thanks for featuring mine. Posted March 31, 2008 |
