How Hot Is This Jalapeno?

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Posted by @Anderwood on April 27, 2014

Sometimes we pick a jalapeno that is so mild it might as well be a green Bell Pepper, and other times it is almost closer to a Serrano!

How do you really know how hot a pepper is? In general, the younger a pepper is, the milder and more bitter it is. The more mature and colorful the pepper is, the more heat it packs in its punch. The reason is that, as the plant matures, the capsaicin builds up in the plant. If you are looking for a hotter pepper, also look for white striations lengthwise. This indicates a pepper that will send you reaching for that glass of milk.