Habanero Chile Peppers

Habanero Chile Peppers
© Denzil Green

Habanero are beautiful, small, lantern-shaped chiles about the size of a golf ball, though not quite succeeding at being as round, because they are quite wrinkled.

They can be green, yellow, orange or red. They have the most flavour -- not to mention heat -- when they have fully ripened to red.

When dried, they are brown.

Habaneros are pretty much the hottest chile peppers going. Some scientists in India claim the "Naga Jolokia" is hotter, but their lab tests (done in 2000) haven't really been accepted or confirmed yet. So for now at least, Habanero remains the reigning princess of pain and pleasure.

Orange Habaneros: 80,000 to 200,000 Scoville Units;
Red Savina Habaneros: 577,000 Scoville Units;
Tabasco sauce (for heat comparison): 1,500 - 2,500 Scoville units.

Cooking Tips

Habaneros are perhaps the one type of chile that it's not overdramatic to use gloves with when handling. Depending on your genetic make-up, you may even feel it burning your skin, never mind your eyes. Cutting boards should be cleaned afterward.

If your hands burn from the contact, try applying a vegetable oil. If it's in your eyes, you will have strong pain. Flush with water immediately and a lot.

Rehydrate dried ones in warm water first.

Substitutes
For one Habanero another type of hot pepper or one teaspoon of puréed Habanero sauce or two teaspoons of a hot chile sauce

Literature & Lore
Habanero means "from Havana". Many people, in a laudable attempt to get the Spanish right, will spell it "Habañero". That's wrong -- there is no squiggly over top its "n" -- but it does look more festive like that.

Also called: Capsicum chinense (Scientific Name) Piment Habanero (French)

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