Ultimate guide on How Hot Are Jalapeno Peppers. The jalapeño is a type cultivar of the species Capsicum annuum that is genuinely versatile.
Types of Jalapenos Scoville Spice Units - Mild, Medium & HOT
In terms of flavor, jalapenos can be both sweet and spicy. And in terms of color, jalapenos can range from green to red to black. But what makes the jalapeño so unique is its spice level. Jalapenos can be very spicy, depending on the variety.
For the most part, dark green jalapenos typically found at your grocery store have been picked before their maturity, which means that they can't develop a level of spicy/heat, which results in them tasting milder and sometimes even sweet!
It turns out that red jalapenos are more mature than green ones and have higher spice levels to show for them.
⬇️ Table of Contents
- Scoville Scale To Measure Spice Level
- Jalapeno Scoville Units - Capsaicin
- Types of Mild Jalapenos 🌶️
- 🌶️ Chilipeno Hybrids
- 🌶️ Chichimeca Jalapenos
- 🌶️ Mammoth Jalapenos
- Types of Medium Jalapenos 🌶️
- 🌶️ Fuego / Jalafuego Jalapenos
- 🌶️ Mucho Nacho Jalapenos
- 🌶️ Jaloro Pepper
- Types Of HOT Jalapenos Peppers 🌶️
- 🌶️ Biker Billy Jalapenos
- 🌶️ Black Jalapenos
- 🌶️ Purple Jalapenos
- Health Warning
- 📖 Recipe Card
Scoville Scale To Measure Spice Level
The Scoville scale is used to measure the level of Capsaicin/spice in a pepper. The higher numbers on this system represent hotter peppers, which have been measured at more than 2 million SHU (Scoville Heat Units).
It is important for cooks and chefs alike to know how many Scovilles they are using because some may be too powerful if not appropriately diluted!
Jalapeno Scoville Units - Capsaicin
Jalapeno peppers typically range from 2,500 to 5,000 units on the Scoville scale. However, some jalapeno peppers can reach up to 10,000 units on the scale.
The hottest part of the jalapeno is its capsaicin and related compounds concentrated in vesicles found within the placenta membrane.
Types of Mild Jalapenos 🌶️
There are several different types of mild jalapenos on the market. Here is a look at a comprehensive list.
🌶️ Chilipeno Hybrids
Jalapeno chili peppers are typically hot, with the exception of Chilipeno Hybrids. These types come from Mexico and have a red color when fully ripe but offer no real spice like their other mild cousins, and do not even max out on the spice scale at 8,000 and are usually found much closer to 2,000-3,000(SHU).
🌶️ Chichimeca Jalapenos
Chichimeca Jalapenos are among the most mild-mannered types, with a Scoville heat level that can range anywhere between 3,000 and 8,000 (SHU). They make up for their lack of spiciness by packing a big punch when it comes to size; they rank as one of the largest jalapenos peppers around!
🌶️ Mammoth Jalapenos
Mammoth Jalapeno is a variety of pepper that can grow up to 5 inches long and as much as two inches in diameter. It has only enough capsaicin to capture between 1,000 to 5,000(SHU), making them less spicy than other varieties on the market today!
Types of Medium Jalapenos 🌶️
There are several different types of medium jalapenos on the market. Here is a look at a comprehensive list.
🌶️ Fuego / Jalafuego Jalapenos
Fuego is Spanish for "heat." Fuejos typically weigh between 4,000 - 8,000(SHU) (Scoville heat units), making them one of the hottest types on average when compared to other jalapeno peppers' capsicum levels. Fuego's average at 6 inches long, or almost 3 inches longer than usual jalapeno peppers.
🌶️ Mucho Nacho Jalapenos
The Mucho Nacho Jalapeno pepper is another one that sits in the 4,000 – 8,000 sweet spot on the Scoville scale. Mucho Nacho Jalapeno pepper can have a lot of heat, so be careful when biting into these chilis!
4-inch fruits are fatter than regular peppers. These thicker cylinders of fire come in various colors, including green or red, depending on how long they've been growing under the sun- but no matter what color they turn when mature, these chiles still give you more heat than most other types out there.
🌶️ Jaloro Pepper
Jaloro Pepper is a type of chile pepper that turns from yellow to red when left unharvested. Coming at 5,000 on the Scoville scale. It can be used at any stage in its maturity, but it commonly becomes popular while still being green and tender with layers upon layers before maturing fully into an orange-red fruitiness. The juicy flesh has thick walls, so they're great for making salsas or nachos! You'll Jaloro Pepper adds just enough heat without overwhelming your taste bud too much.
Types Of HOT Jalapenos Peppers 🌶️
There are several different types of HOT jalapenos on the market. Here is a look at a comprehensive list.
🌶️ Biker Billy Jalapenos
Billy Biker Jalapeno is named after the TV personality who loves them hot. Biker Billy Jalapenos are so hot that they can routinely reach 30,000 SHU. For reference, cayenne peppers only have 15,000 to 25,000 Scoville heat units (SHUs). This means these jalapeños would be classified as being in a league all their own.
🌶️ Black Jalapenos
Black jalapenos are one of the most Dominant peppers on earth due to their dark hue. They can come out tasting rather mild or have a Scoville heat unit as high as 10,000(SHU).
🌶️ Purple Jalapenos
Purple Jalapenos are capsicums that mature to an incredible hue of purple before ripening out spicy and sweet. Not only do these colorful peppers come with an impressive 5,000 to 8,000 Scoville Heat Units, but their significant spice factor makes them popular among chili enthusiasts.
Health Warning
Learn more about the effect of spicy pepper on the body;
Recipes To Try
📖 Recipe Card
How Hot Are Jalapeno Peppers
Ingredients
- 9 Jalapenos
Instructions
CHILIPENO HYBRIDS (Mild)
- Jalapeno chili peppers are typically hot, with the exception of Chilipeno Hybrids. These types come from Mexico and have a red color when fully ripe but offer no real spice like their other mild cousins, and do not even max out on spice scale at 8,000 and are usually found much closer to 2,000-3,000(SHU).
CHICHIMECA JALAPENOS (Mild)
- Chichimeca Jalapenos are among the most mild-mannered types, with a Scoville heat level that can range anywhere between 3,000 and 8,000 (SHU). They make up for their lack of spiciness by packing a big punch when it comes to size; they rank as one of the largest jalapenos peppers around!
MAMMOTH JALAPENOS (Mild)
- Mammoth Jalapeno is a variety of pepper that can grow up to 5 inches long and as much as two inches in diameter. It has only enough capsaicin to capture between 1,000 to 5,000(SHU), making them less spicy than other varieties on the market today!
FUEGO / JALAFUEGO JALAPENOS (Medium)
- Fuego is Spanish for "heat." Fuejos typically weigh between 4,000 - 8,000(SHU) (Scoville heat units), making them one of the hottest types on average when compared to other jalapeno peppers capsicum levels. Fuego's average at 6 inches long, or almost 3 inches longer than usual jalapeno peppers.
MUCHO NACHO JALAPENOS (Medium)
- The Mucho Nacho Jalapeno pepper is another one that sits in the 4,000 – 8,000 sweet spot on the Scoville scale. Mucho Nacho Jalapeno pepper can have a lot of heat, so be careful when biting into these chilis!4-inch fruits are fatter than regular peppers. These thicker cylinders of fire come in various colors, including green or red, depending on how long they've been growing under the sun- but no matter what color they turn when mature, these chiles still give you more heat than most other types out there
JALORO PEPPER (Medium)
- Jaloro Pepper is a type of chile pepper that turns from yellow to red when left unharvested. Coming at 5,000 on the Scoville scale. It can be used at any stage in its maturity, but it commonly becomes popular while still being green and tender with layers upon layers before maturing fully into an orange-red fruitiness. The juicy flesh has thick walls, so they're great for making salsas or nachos! You'll Jaloro Pepper adds just enough heat without overwhelming your taste bud too much.
BIKER BILLY JALAPENOS (HOT)
- Billy Biker Jalapeno is named after the TV personality who loves them hot. Biker Billy Jalapenos are so hot that they can routinely reach 30,000 SHU. For reference, cayenne peppers only have 15,000 to 25,000 Scoville heat units (SHUs). This means these jalapeños would be classified as being in a league all their own
BLACK JALAPENOS (HOT)
- Black jalapenos are one of the most Dominant peppers on earth due to their dark hue. They can come out tasting rather mild or have a Scoville heat unit as high as 10,000(SHU).
PURPLE JALAPENOS (HOT)
- Purple Jalapenos are capsicums that mature to an incredible hue of purple before ripening out spicy and sweet. Not only do these colorful peppers come with an impressive 5,000 to 8,000 Scoville Heat Units, but their significant spice factor makes them popular among chili enthusiasts
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