Does the choice of peppers affect the 'flavor of the heat'?

Does the choice of peppers affect the 'flavor of the heat'? - Top view of dry curcuma with smoked paprika and mix of ground peppers on plastic spoons on marble table

Working with a variation of this chili recipe I meticulously cleaned my peppers of seeds and veins to produce a 'milder' chili. Unfortunately this batch was almost 'too mild' (heat wise, the flavor was very good). I am thinking that next time around I will leave in some of the seeds/veins to give it just a bit more 'kick'.

The question is, given the choice of Anaheim, poblano and jalapeno peppers would it matter to the flavor which pepper I allow to be the source of the heat? I know that each pepper has it's own unique flavor to offer and each is going to provide a different 'level' of heat, but will the 'heat' taste differently based on the choice of pepper?

[for anyone interested, the variation that I apply is to substitute buffalo for ground beef and fresh tomatoes for the canned, I don't believe either should affect this question.]



Best Answer

The heat is the same; all peppers contain capsaicin. The Scoville scale defines heat in terms of capsaicin content. Use the peppers that have the flavor you want, and make it as hot as you want, and you'll be set.

And the flavor besides heat is definitely concentrated in the flesh, so you shouldn't notice any real difference in pepper flavor either.




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Does the choice of peppers affect the 'flavor of the heat'? - Assorted spices at counter in street market
Does the choice of peppers affect the 'flavor of the heat'? - Chili Lot
Does the choice of peppers affect the 'flavor of the heat'? - Ground turmeric and hot paprika on cutting board



Do all hot peppers taste the same?

Types of Peppers, from Mild to HotGreen peppers have a grassier taste. The orange variety is a bit less flavorful than the red. Bell peppers have thick flesh, are crunchy and juicy, and are often eaten raw, sauteed, roasted or stuffed.

Does more peppers mean more heat?

In short, more types of peppers does not necessarily add more heat, but more capsaicin does.

Do different peppers burn differently?

Obviously not all hot peppers are the same. Not only do they look different but it almost goes without saying that the heat you feel in your mouth can range from mild, at best, to scorching, almost mind-numbing hot! That's because a pepper's heat can vary greatly on the Scoville Scale.

What pepper has the best flavor?

Best Tasting Sweet Peppers
  • Biquinho pepper (left) and lesya pepper (right).
  • Home grown shishito peppers.
  • Habanada pepper.
  • Golden marconi pepper.
  • Poblano peppers.
  • Banana peppers.
  • Sugar rush 'stripey' peppers.
  • Aji charapita peppers.




Study suggests health benefits from spicy food




More answers regarding does the choice of peppers affect the 'flavor of the heat'?

Answer 2

It really is not as simple as that, or you can go the other route throw in what you got and see what it may have to much of or be lacking for you.

Disreguarding the heat differance in the peppers there are also great diferances in the flavors, of many your three choices included. The Choice of chili is more like 3 choices. heat, flavor/texture and amounts of chile and types, what will give you a desired result.

Answer 3

The "flavor of the heat" has a lot to do with how the capsaicin is distributed in the sauce, and how it is contained in solid (if you added dry chili powder at the end of cooking), fat, alcohol (if there is any in the food), or water (which does not dissolve it well at all) phases, and also with how these phases are mixed (water+alcohol obviously mix, fat+water can be emulsified or separate).

Two different chile pepper preparations, added each in amounts which will add the same total capsaicin content to the dish, will only yield equivalent heat if, by cooking methods, the capsaicin is equally dissolved.

For example, 1g of dry bhut jolokia powder will not be a good substitute for 10-20g of dried cayenne pepper or 50g of deggi mirch, even if all the options are roughly equivalent in capsaicin, unless the dish is very rich and cooked for a significant time - the first option will present harshly spicy particles in an -on average- milder suspension to the tongue...

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Images: Karolina Grabowska, Julia Volk, Artem Beliaikin, Karolina Grabowska