Fresh Chillis

[ethandron]

Twice recently I've bought a pack of four or five fresh red chillis from the supermarket, which have not had any heat whatsoever. In between these, I've bought packs which have had heat.
Has anyone else had this problem? It's really disappointing to buy these heatless chillis when you buy them specifically for their chilli-ness. I'm going back to buying birds eye ones in future.

[237SJ]

I`d only ever buy birds eye chillies anyway or grow my own.

[ethandron]

I won't be growing my own.
I fail to understand why chillis are produced and sold without heat, even ordinary ones. It's in the name isn't it?

[-SharonA-]

I was thinking the same thing. I had bought some scotch bonnets and you could have ate them like sweets!!! No heat, no fire. Very disappointing as I wanted one for my jerk chicken.

[Tilly2]

I buy dried ones. They are always hot.

[SlackAlice]

I grow our supply usually 'Apache', 'Scotch Bonnet' and 'La Bomba'

[Trishy]

Try growing capsicum pubescens. They are fiercely hot, with black seeds and are perennial. Grow them outside during the summer, cut them down and bring inside for the winter.

[theprof]

I'm sorry to say that I see nothing wrong here ethandron. I'll try to explain.

There are many species of what are commonly known as Chilli Peppers. Usually, the group are divided into about five domestic species. Let's talk about one of them called Capsicum annuum.

Capsicum annuum species contain many types of peppers that you can buy in supermarkets. It includes some of the more popular jalapeno types as well as cayenne peppers and paprikas. Collectively, all Capsicum annuum species can be regarded as chilli peppers. However, the species also contain other varieties known as bell peppers. Now, bell peppers are more commonly known as sweet peppers in the UK. This means that the sweet pepper that we slice and put on our salads in the UK is also a chilli pepper.

Now you don't need me to tell you that sweet peppers have no discernible heat. So how did this situation come about? It's all because we associate the word chilli with heat. When we want to add heat to a curry, we add chilli powder. It's a small step from there to consider that anything with the word "chilli" in it will be hot. This is not so.

Creative marketing by supermarkets has put us in this position. This is why you'll receive no sympathy from the supermarket when you return your "non-hot" chilli. They've done nothing wrong. They've sold you a chilli pepper variety. It's your expectation that they will be hot is what is wrong.

[ethandron]

This is what it says on the packet:
Use gloves to prevent irritation, wash hands with soap after preparation. Remove the seeds to reduce the heat intensity. Finely chop or slice to add intense heat to recipes.
If it looks like a hot chilli, is described as being a hot chilli, then I'm pretty sure most people, me included, would buy it expecting it to be exactly that..hot.
Thank you for all your replies, interesting to know that I'm not the only one who has been sold a dud.

[ummmm]

Chop the top off and test it on your tongue. If they are milder than expected I throw in some chilli flakes. Even mild chillis still have flavour.

I buy chillis in batches and freeze them (same with ginger and garlic) they are much easier to chop when frozen.

[theprof]

Ethandron, now that you've disclosed that the packaging described the chillies as hot, I'd complain to the appropriate supermarket buyer. These guys are usually quick enough to get the description amended before they get accused of food misdescription which will result in a heavy fine. Your local authority would take a dim view of this sort of thing.

Chilli peppers are hot because of the amount of capsaicinoids and capsaicin they contain. It's got nothing to do with them looking like hot chilli peppers. The Cubanelle looks like a hot chilli pepper but you can eat it by the bucketful. There are many other near zero scoville unit chillies out there that look like hot chillies but are not. It's very likely that these varieties were what you purchased.

[ethandron]

I've bought quite a number of these very same packs and have only had two packs which had no heat whatsoever, not just mild, but totally heatless.
I am more curious as to why the same chillies, in the same packaging, stating the same heat, differ, than wanting to complain to anyone about it, and was also curious if anyone else had found the same, which Sharon has.
However, I thank you for your rather long winded explanation, I'm sure you meant to be helpful :/

[theprof]

Let's be succinct then. They differ because no matter who packages them for the supermarket or what varieties they bung in that packaging, the packaging is exactly the same in all cases apart from the packaging code and country of origin. If the package says hot for one, it's hot for all. If it's still a mystery to you, let me know and I'll explain in more detail. It won't be succinct though - you either want to know or you don't.

[Mamyalynne]

I do as others do, mainly I prefer the warmth of spices, but if I do need the heat of chilli I use dried flakes or the jars of 'Lazy chopped Chillis ' in oil.

Easy to adjust the taste bit by bit.