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Why jalapeño peppers are less spicy (2023)

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Re: Why jalapeño peppers are less spicy (2023)

#21

Post by [deleted] »

ramraj07 wrote: post #12
tptacek wrote: post #11

The reason I took away from this: large agricultural producers of peppers bred towards a "low heat, low variance" standard, away from a "high variance" standard that produced frequent hot jalapenos. Low-heat-low-variance is better for mass food production, because producers can just dose the capsaicin directly, which is something they can't do easily when every pepper is a wildcard. There are second-order effects, li…

This has got to be the funniest responses to the problem at hand: peppers not spicy enough? grow your own..

[deleted]

Re: Why jalapeño peppers are less spicy (2023)

#22

Post by progmetaldev »

ramraj07 wrote: post #12
tptacek wrote: post #11

The reason I took away from this: large agricultural producers of peppers bred towards a "low heat, low variance" standard, away from a "high variance" standard that produced frequent hot jalapenos. Low-heat-low-variance is better for mass food production, because producers can just dose the capsaicin directly, which is something they can't do easily when every pepper is a wildcard. There are second-order effects, li…

This has got to be the funniest responses to the problem at hand: peppers not spicy enough? grow your own..

As someone that loves hot sauce, including fermenting my own, it's unfortunate that it does actually require growing your own if you want a lot of heat along with flavor. Using capsaicin extracts will give you heat, but often little flavor (or no flavor if you go hot enough).

Re: Why jalapeño peppers are less spicy (2023)

#23

Post by quickslowdown »

episteme wrote: post #15
thrwwycbr wrote: post #3

The article doesn't contain the actual reason. I'd argue that the real reason is that peppers are now mass produced in clean, bug-free, environments. Which means: No bug bites, no spice. If you grow peppers indoors where no bugs are, they tend to be a very mild produce. If you put them outside (and have enough insects around), they get much more spicy. Of course the usage of pesticides contributes to that effect, due…

Why do bug bites increase spice?

The spice is an evolved defense mechanism, so if it's not needed, the peppers eventually stop producing it. Couple that with us intentionally selecting for things other than spice, and within a few generations you have a less spicy pepper.

Note I'm not any kind of qualified to talk on this topic. I'm sure someone can give a better & more accurate answer!

Re: Why jalapeño peppers are less spicy (2023)

#24

Post by jseliger »

tptacek wrote: post #11

The reason I took away from this: large agricultural producers of peppers bred towards a "low heat, low variance" standard, away from a "high variance" standard that produced frequent hot jalapenos. Low-heat-low-variance is better for mass food production, because producers can just dose the capsaicin directly, which is something they can't do easily when every pepper is a wildcard. There are second-order effects, li…

Less spicy is actually good. I prefer more flavorful chiles, with less spice. Mark Miller's conversation with Tyler Cowen is good on this subject: https://conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/mark-miller/.

Chiles are actually fruits and, combined judiciously, create a lot of complex flavors. Excess spiciness overwhelms the flavor. And people who want absurdly spicy peppers, can get them: ghost chiles, carolina reapers, and so on.

"Flavor > heat" in other words.

Re: Why jalapeño peppers are less spicy (2023)

#26

Post by progmetaldev »

amenghra wrote: post #17
sudden_dystopia wrote: post #8

I don’t like more than a little spicy but I discovered that if you stand the jalapeño up and cut vertical panels leaving the core and seeds behind, they are essentially just sweet peppers with a little kick. It seems that almost all of the heat is in the seeds and the plith.

My experience is most peppers pack the most heat in their seeds. Some peppers have a hot oil that can get on your fingers and start tingling minutes/couple hours later.

I thought the same, but it's supposed to be from the pith. I just think that since the seeds grow off the pith, you get some of that pith with the seeds. I've also felt the horror and pain of using the restroom hours after dealing with peppers, not realizing the mistake that I had made. Never again though, that was a teaching moment for life!

Re: Why jalapeño peppers are less spicy (2023)

#27

Post by Aloha »

tptacek wrote: post #11

The reason I took away from this: large agricultural producers of peppers bred towards a "low heat, low variance" standard, away from a "high variance" standard that produced frequent hot jalapenos. Low-heat-low-variance is better for mass food production, because producers can just dose the capsaicin directly, which is something they can't do easily when every pepper is a wildcard. There are second-order effects, li…

This is why I can actually Jalapeño now!

Also, Brussel Sprouts still taste like gym socks or bad cabbage to me.

Re: Why jalapeño peppers are less spicy (2023)

#28

Post by silverquiet »

tptacek wrote: post #11

The reason I took away from this: large agricultural producers of peppers bred towards a "low heat, low variance" standard, away from a "high variance" standard that produced frequent hot jalapenos. Low-heat-low-variance is better for mass food production, because producers can just dose the capsaicin directly, which is something they can't do easily when every pepper is a wildcard. There are second-order effects, li…

I think I like the occasional wildcard pepper - sometimes variety is (literally) the spice of life.

Re: Why jalapeño peppers are less spicy (2023)

#29

Post by nkozyra »

ramraj07 wrote: post #12
tptacek wrote: post #11

The reason I took away from this: large agricultural producers of peppers bred towards a "low heat, low variance" standard, away from a "high variance" standard that produced frequent hot jalapenos. Low-heat-low-variance is better for mass food production, because producers can just dose the capsaicin directly, which is something they can't do easily when every pepper is a wildcard. There are second-order effects, li…

This has got to be the funniest responses to the problem at hand: peppers not spicy enough? grow your own..

A specific type of pepper. There are many other peppers with more heat and variability.

But I'd argue peppers are the easiest non-herb vegetable/fruit to grow, so it's a fair suggestion.

Re: Why jalapeño peppers are less spicy (2023)

#30

Post by firstplacelast »

voidwtf wrote: post #5

Wow, I was just telling my partner last week that the Jalapeños I'd bought were not spicy and it seemed like it was happening more and more often. I love Jalapeños with cheese and crackers and it sucks to cut up a whole jalapeño only to find I might as well just used a green pepper.

I make salsa once a month and have noticed this the last couple years. Occasionally get a spicy batch, but more often am adding habaneros to bring up the heat.

I made a verde for the Super Bowl a couple weeks ago and tried to keep it mild since I didn't know everyone's preferences. Even after 3 jalapenos in a small batch of salsa, it had almost zero spice (commented on by party goers - still tasty though).

Last week on the show Chrissy and Dave Dine Out, the chef of an Ethiopian restaurant in LA commented how she quit using jalapenos because they're not spicy anymore and opts for serranos in her dishes instead.

Anyway, I kept thinking I was getting weak batches/unlukcy in my jalapeno selection, but I guess I need to start going for serranos.

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