The habanero chile (Capsicum chinense Jacquin) (Spanish, from Havana) is the most intensely spicy chile pepper of the Capsicum genus. Unripe habaneros are green, but the color at maturity varies. Common colors are orange and red, but white, brown, and pink are also seen. Typically a ripe habanero is 2–6 cm (1–2½ in) long.

Scoville rating

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Most habaneros will rate between 100,000 and 350,000 Scoville units. Several growers have attempted to selectively breed habanero plants to produce hotter, heavier, and larger peppers.

The Red Savina™ pepper is a cultivar of the habanero pepper, and has been tested and certified as the "World's hottest spice" as listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

Origin and current use

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Although habaneros are believed to have originated in Cuba, it is nonetheless an important part of cuisine in the Yucatán peninsula, where it is often served roasted as a condiment with meals. Approximately 1,500 tons are harvested annually there.

Other producers include Belize, Costa Rica, and some US states including Texas, Idaho, and California.

The Scotch bonnet is often compared to the habanero, as they are two varieties of the same species but have different pod types. Both the Scotch bonnet and the habanero have the characteristic thin, waxy flesh. They have similar heat level and flavour. Although both varieties average around the same level of heat, the actual degree of "spiciness" varies greatly with genetics, growing methods, climate, and plant stress.

Recently, the habanero's heat, its fruity, citrus-like flavour, and its floral aroma have made it a popular ingredient in hotter hot sauces and spicy foods.

McIlhenny Co. offers a Habanero version of their popular Tabasco sauce at 7,000 to 8,000 Scoville units, making it the spiciest sauce they offer. Other sauces include Dave's Insanity sauce, at 80,000+ Scoville units, which is prepared from capsaicin extracts, and not the pepper itself. Similarly, The Source, from "Original Juan Specialty Foods", is rated at 7,100,000 Scoville units.

The word habanero is sometimes misspelled (and mispronounced) as "habañero", probably via association with jalapeño.

Growing habanero

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Habaneros thrive in hot weather. However, since peppers belong to the nightshade family, too much sun can be damaging to the leaves and plant. As with all peppers, the habanero does well in an area with good morning sun, in soil with an acidity level around 5-6 pH. The habanero should be watered only when dry. Overly moist soil and roots will produce bitter-tasting peppers.

Habanero bushes are good candidates for a container garden. They can live many years in pots or other growing containers.

The habanero is a perennial flowering plant, meaning that with proper care and growing conditions, it can produce flowers, hence fruit, for many years.

In tropical and sub-tropical regions, the Habanero, like other chiles, will produce year round. As long as conditions are favorable, the plant will set fruit continuously.

Habanero in Japan

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The Habanero pepper recently (2005) saw a fantastic surge in popularity in Japan, due primarily to Tohato's Bokun (Tyrant) Habanero snack. These ring shaped habanero-flavoured crispy snacks are astonishingly spicy, especially in Japan where spicy foods aren't normally popular. The snack proved so popular that, according to this Japan Times article, production in Mexico's Yucatán peninsula doubled to 3,000 tons in 2005. Tohato has sold more than 25 million bags of Bokun Habanero, according to the Japan Times.

Bokun Habanero was so popular a Japanese artist named Shigatake created a heroine based on the snack, Habanero-tan, an unfortunate girl who was at least partially made from habanero peppers. This little cartoon character herself became so popular that popular internet magazine Net Runner bundled a free figure with every issue as a special promotion. This figure featured Habanero-tan sitting on a toilet (tastefully!) as one of the running gags is the burning pain one gets from eating the pepper. (Habanero-tan Wallpaper)

Tohato has gone on to sell an astonishing variety of Bokun Habanero-themed stuff, as well as a Flash game, and some truly disturbing commercials (bottom of page) featuring S&M Habaneros whipping the eater's tongue. Domino's Pizza in Japan has a special Habanero lobster pizza.

External links

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• UK Chile Head
• Habanero Pepper Facts
• Habanero Pepper recipes
• McIlhenny Co., makers of Tabasco® pepper sauces
• Dave's Gourmet, makers of the Dave's Insanity Sauce line.
• Original Juan Specialty Foods, makers of The Source
• Hot Sauce, sells a variety of hot sauce.

Chili peppers | Fruits and vegetables of Mexico

Paprička habanero | Habanero | Habanero | Capsicum chinense | ハバネロ | Habanero