Pepper plants are usually a quite resistant, and they only require a minimal care.
That is one of the reasons why many people love to have them in a garden.
However, they are not fully immune to different infections, and there are some types of plant diseases that can harm them. Peppers need to have appropriate conditions for growing. It is the first requirement for their successful development.
Like other plants, they cannot grow without water and Sun. Regardless of their health conditions, they have to be properly exposed to these elements. If they do not receive enough water or Sun, they would be weaker and therefore more susceptible to various illnesses.
Also, if chilies receive too much water on a daily basis, some disease may occur as an outcome.
For example, excessive watering can attract Aphids, which are a real nightmare for chili plants.
They are hard to spot at the beginning, and when you finally notice them, it is usually too late, and your garden is already partially or totally destroyed.
Also, poor pollination can be dangerous for peppers, and like misuse of water, it may cause different problems and attract various plant diseases.
Some of these are Thrips, Viruses, and Spider Mites. Chemical injury can harm chilies too. It often attracts various illnesses, such as Powdery Mildew, Cercospora Leaf Spot, and Viruses among others.
Temperature is also very important for pepper developing. Chilies may have a slow growth if it is too low. They may also fail to ripen because of the same reason. If you notice any of these symptoms, you would know what a potential cause is.
Eliminating the source will eventually cure your sick chilies. Always follow the basic rules to prevent any of these problems. Protect your pepper plants as good as you can. Use enough water and light. Adjust temperature. Expose your plants to sun rays.
Use good soil and enough pollination. Avoid chemical injuries at all cost.
It is all in your hands. If you create good conditions for your chilies, their illness will pass, and you will have no problems anymore.
Daemon Red chili or Thai Chili is very suitable for growing indoors. These peppers are quite small, approximately five to six centimeters long. They are usually red and thin. You can grow them at your home, greenhouse or anywhere else inside. The time of maturity is four to five months. After that, they can be served together with a meal. Daemon Red peppers are very hot but delicious chilies. Consumers have an interesting and pleasant experience while eating them.
The Bhut Jolokia is an extremely hot pepper that grows very well indoors. This chili is great for those who love dangerous pepper varieties. It is definitely one of the hottest chilis in the world, so the consumers should be highly careful while eating it. The Bhut Jolokia originates from Assam in Northeast India and can be found in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Furthermore, this pepper is even used by the Indian army, and it is an interesting fact worth mentioning. The Indian Ministry of Defense replaced controversial pellet bullets with pepper grenades. And the Bhut Jolokia is the main component.
The Inferno chili is a moderately hot pepper, and it is not as dangerous as these chilies above. Its country of origin is Hungary, and because of that the Inferno is also called “Hungarian Hot Wax.” The pods can be yellow, light green, orange and red. Home breeding is an ideal condition for the variety, however, it should be totally exposed to Sun. The Inferno has a quite usual look with a normal shape and an average size.
The best place for growth is definitely somewhere near a window because they need a daylight and Sun rays. You can even make a small plant on the balcony, and the peppers will grow during summer.
To start, you will need the seeds. Fortunately, you can buy seeds easily and the price is pretty affordable. After that, you should also prepare potting soil, water, and a seed tray. If you do not have them, both can be bought online or in a specialized shop.
Their prices vary, so pay attention while buying. When you have all this, the seeds are ready to be planted. Firstly, put potting soil into the seed tray, and then place the seeds an inch down into the soil.
Now, they are ready to be watered, so you should do that. Pay attention to your chili plants, watch them every day, and repeat watering when the soil becomes dry.
The Serrano Chili Pepper, also known as Capsicum annuum longum, was originally grown in the mountains of Mexico. The name serrano, is derived from the term sierras which refers to the mountains in that region.
Serrano chili pepper is several times hotter than the Japapeno pepper, scoring a Scoville Scale rating in between 10,000 – 25,000.
Because of the spicy taste it gives, it is often used in hot dishes like Pico de Gallo. The serrano pepper size is about 1-2 inches and they come in dark green and red colours.
Planting the Serrano Chili Pepper
The first step is to let the serrano chili pepper seeds sprout and it is done by sowing the seeds ¼ inch deep in a seedling tray. It needs some warmth and sunshine in order to germinate properly.
Since you have to put it indoor, you can place a heat mat under the tray and put the tray near a window with lots of sun exposure. Artificial lighting is a good substitute if not enough sun is entering through the window and growing chilies indoors is possible.
After 2 – 3 weeks, you can transplant the young plant into the garden. There should be a distance of about 12 – 48 inches apart each young plant. Each row should be at least 24 – 36 inches apart.
Peppers like warm temperature so you should plant them in places that get lots of sun. The area of the garden where you plant the peppers should have a fertile soil with a PH between 6.2 – 7. The soil must be well drained otherwise it will cause disease like leaf spot.
If you want it to yield heavy fruit, your soil must be rich in potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. In addition, you must regularly water the plant and make sure the soil is moist all the time. If your soil don’t have enough nutrients, you can put 3 – 5 inches of compost above the soil. Organic fertilizer is best used to fertilize the plant.
When growing them early in spring, you can use a row cover to keep them warm and protect them from the cold. If a surprise spring frost is in the forecast, it is advised that you use a frost blanket to cover and protect the young plants. The plant tend to do poorly and the leaves may turn yellowish when the temperature falls below 55º F or 12º C.
Harvesting the Serrano Chili Pepper
The chili is ready for harvesting in 2.5 months starting from the day you transplant them. It will yield a lot of small waxy green fruits in 60 days. After 80 – 100 days, the green peppers will be big and ripe in red, yellow or orange color.
When harvesting, you simply use a pruning shear or sharp knife to nip off the chili pepper. The fruit can last longer if you keep the stem attached. After harvesting the peppers, you can keep them in a air tight plastic bag or plastic container in the refrigerator.
Chili is derived from the term chil given by the Arawak Indians who were the ones that first cultivated it. When Columbus first discovered the chili, he brought it back to Spain where they add the ‘e’ to it. Chili is the oldest spice in the world with archaeological specimens being found that dated to as far back to 7,000 B.C. in New Mexico.
Today, there are many variety of chili peppers including color, degree of spiciness, and shapes. Chili not only add spiciness to the food but it is also rich in antioxidant and rich in vitamin A and C. The anatomy of a chili pepper is comprises of many parts including peduncle, calyx, capsaicin glands, placenta, exocarp, mesocarp, endocarp, seed and apex.
Peduncle is the short branch on top of the pepper that remains when you harvest it from the plant.
Calyx is the green crown on top of the fruit where the penduncle is attach to. It is the remnant of the flower that has already transformed into the fruit. Preserving the calyx can keep the fruit fresher for a longer time.
Capsaicin glands is the central seed stem inside of the pepper that is joined to the placenta near the top. It is located in between the placenta and endocarp. Many people wrongly presumed that the seeds are responsible for producing the capsaicin glands.
Placenta is the round part on top where the seeds are attached to.
Exocarp is the outermost layer of the pepper which comprises the skin.
Mesocarp is the fleshy part under the skin of the pepper which is also called exocarp.
Endocarp is the inner membrane layer that surrounds the seeds.
The seed inside the pepper has low level of moisture but a high level of lecithin. Chili pepper seeds are edible. However, most people will prefer to discard the seeds as they are hard to chew and do not add any spicy flavor to the cooking.
The seeds are hot but they are not the hottest part. The white pith or rib that hold the seeds and the part that connect to the shoulder are believed to be the hottest part. The white pith is about 100 times hotter that the pepper flesh.
Apex is the bottom tip of the pepper fruit. The apex and peduncle are two areas that have the least capsaicin so biting these areas first will be less hotter.
When preparing chili pepper, you may want to wear a pair of glove to prevent the capsaicin oil from coming in contact to your skin. The capsaicin oil in the pepper can burn your skin and cause blistering.
If your skin get burned, you can apply some white vinegar to sooth it. Skin burn can occur especially when you are preparing a pepper with high Scoville scale such as Habanero.
Our site has had so much traffic from the Chili Willy Peppers, that we must do another post with some links to help you purchase some!
Laugh away, it’s totally ok.
It’s not hard to understand why, this unique chili is rude, crude and outright fantastic.
Also known as Peters Peppers or Penis Peppers, the Chili Willy Peppers have that very distinct shape.
Chili Willy Peter Pepper Appearance
When you see it, you can’t ignore its shape. The chilly willy or peter pepper is accurately named. When fully grown and ripened, the chili pod has a long conical shape and a bulbous end that shares an uncanny resemblance to… well we all know!
It doesn’t only look good but also taste spicy (excuse the pun…)
Attending a dinner or BBQ with this chili is a good conversation starter between your family and friends. The chilli pods go from green to red over time.
Chili Willy Penis Pepper Taste and Heat
Medium-hot to pretty darn fiery (reportedly in the 10,000 to 23,000 scoville scale Units range) and are good tasting (great for spicing up salsa as well as conversation).
Once you get past the laughs, there’s a pretty significant hot pepper here – hotter than a jalapeño.
Where to Buy Chili Willy Peppers & Availability
You might be able to find them at farmer’s markets if you are lucky, but if you really want chili willy peter peppers, you’re going to need to invest time into growing them.
Peter pepper seeds are widely available online, and that’s how this chili has survived and grown its cult following over the years.
This is the trickiest part. These chilies are, in fact, pretty rare to find. Many people grow peter peppers, but, for obvious reasons, they aren’t typically carried in big-box supermarkets. These chilies are too likely to cause an uproar.
Seeds are hard to obtain around the world and are limited. but we have them here!
This is one naughty pepper, that’s for sure. In fact, it gives the popular term “food porn” a whole new meaning.
If you want your own peck of peter peppers, you’ll need to be on the look-out (or get ready to grow them). But, when you do find them, enjoy the laugh along with the good taste.
Pettie Belle chillies, as it is called in Africa or Bell Pepper in various other parts of the world, is a necessary addition to various types of cuisine is across the world. It is a great addition to any kind of sauces, main courses as well as salads.
There are various types of new varieties that can be found from the various types of seeds and nurseries, which can include mini-bells and colored bells that you might be hard pressed to find in your grocery store. Even the farmers market would not help you to find such wonderful bell peppers.
However, you can easily grow such papers in your backyard, particularly in very little space. For example, you could grow them in your small container, and start harvesting them in order to create the best Pepper for your meals.
Pettie Belle Chili Cultivation
In case you would like to grow bell pepper of an exotic variety like the Pettie Belle, you have to secure the seed from nurseries of your choice. If it is late winter, then start the seeds indoors. You should choose an area that contains plenty of light and warmth, or you could set up halogen lights and add a heat mat under the seeding tray so as to create a small greenhouse.
You can then choose a large pea pot, or large coir which can be planted directly into the ground. The peppers can then be transplanted from the pots made out of plastic to that secure location without having the roots disturbed.
After that, fill up your pot with good and lose potting soil. Plant your seeds according to the depth recommended in the Internet or given in the plastic packet containing the seeds. Always keep the soil moist, but not filled with water.
After the seedlings emerge, always make sure that you can turn them regularly, do not allow the plant to get bent; keep changing the direction of the light.
When the time comes for you to plant the pepper outdoors, always make sure that you take them outside for an hour or so in order to harden them. After a few days, keep increasing the time of keeping the plant outside in the sun, until you feel that the plant has been acclimatized, and there is no chance of any sunburn happening to the plant.
Make sure that the place is watered uniformly, do not allow the soil to dry out, and make sure that there is no sitting water. If the soil is excessively dry, particularly in the hot and windy days, then there would be no fruits, and the flowers will not bloom.
After the first batch of flower blooms, release some fertilizer. This will help you to get the best possible outcome from the Pettie Belle plant.
If you are passionate about growing chillies, then you would be definitely aware of the fact that it is indeed a very challenging process, demanding a
chunk of your time, patience and effort. Nevertheless, at the end, it is also a very rewarding one. Nurturing chilli plants is an extremely delicate process. Certainly, you need to bring it up with care, attention and details. You would find the process to be simple with no iota of complications.
About bell peppers
Bell peppers are tender crops especially grown in warm seasons. So, once you crave for the sweet, spicy and hot touch to your meals, think of growing bell peppers. They come in a range of sizes, shapes and colours. To grow this seed, you have to start your garden for summer. Once you grow them in summers, you can freeze them throughout the winter to add them to soups and sizzlers.
Bell peppers are usually red, green orange and yellow. However, you can also try growing the rarely coloured ones like white, brown, dark purple, lavender, etc. They are most versatile veggies making place in your kitchen and garden, no matter where you are in the world.
Also known as sweet pepper, capsicum or pepper in various corners of the world, bell pepper is a cultivator group of Capsicum annuum species. Besides being a veggie, it is a botanical fruit that has a plethora of culinary and health benefits.
Germinating your chilli seeds
Let’s look into how you can grow bell peppers, a common and spicy chili variety.
You can start seeding it indoors almost 10 weeks prior to previous spring frost date.
For germination, maintain temperature of 70 degrees F and keep in warm place for quicker and better results.
Start with 3 seeds to one pot and thin out the most fragile seedling. Meanwhile, the remaining two will grow as single plant.
Commence hardening off almost 10 days prior to transplanting.
Introduce aged compost and fertiliser to the soil a week ahead of transplanting.
Now, transplant the seeds outdoors with 24 inches in between.
Maintain 65 degrees F within the soil
Carefully place match sticks (2-3) in the hole with the plants along with spoonful of fertilisers.
Drain the soil well and maintain sufficient moisture.
Fertilise following the initial fruit set.
Weed carefully.
Water two inches every week, depending on your regional climate.
Uses of bell pepper
You can spice up your daily and boring meals with such bell peppers grown in your garden. More so, they also add perky crunch and zest to pizzas, wraps, tacos, etc. When roasted, they taste peppy. So, are you already craving to have them? Well, then it’s time to grow them in your garden. Here are some amazing uses of bell pepper.
Bell peppers are known to contain ample of vitamin C that fortifies your immunity and brings glow to your skin. You would find concentration of vitamin C in red bells. They are known to be low in calories and hence bring good news to the health conscious ones. No wonder, it is a great addition to the platter of obese. On gulping down a full cup of bells, you will gain just 45calories.
Red bell peppers are a jackpot of carotenoids and phytochemicals. The beta-carotene can furnish you with anti-inflammatory benefits and antioxidants. The sulphur content protects certain kinds of cancer. These chillies also contain enzymes like lutein that works wonder in protecting macular degeneration and cataracts.
They are rich in vitamin B6 that lavishes you with a healthy nervous system and renewed cells. The capsaicin content in bell peppers can reduce diabetes, bad cholesterol, inflammation and pain. Bell peppers make great salads and addition to casseroles and soups. Also, they can be grilled, stuffed and placed on sandwiches for crunchy snacks.
Pop some bright coloured bell peppers into your veggie basket and start reaping the amazing benefits.
Growing chillies is a very rewarding process, but often it’s the simplest things that get in the way of a great chili harvest, follow the advice below, and with a little care and attention you could be enjoying juicy, great tasting chillies in no time.
Germinating your chili seeds
Many of us struggle with germinating chili seeds and getting them out of the ground!
First of all, make sure that you select a good compost or seed mix, and gently work out any hard lumps from the soil.
Then place your chili seeds on top of the soil, planting them roughly 1-2 inches apart if planting multiple chili seeds. Then loosely sprinkle some soil over the seeds, but do not compact.
There are 2 main points that you will need to keep in mind to maximise your chances of germination.
The first one is moisture – you can soak your pot(s) from the bottom using a tray filled with water the first time you water them to saturate the soil and activate your chili seeds.
For maintaining the moisture in the soil it is best to use a fine mist plant sprayer to water from the top. Aim to keep the soil moist but not soggy as this may cause your seeds to rot before them come up – just use your finger to test the surface of the soil.
Watering your seed trays or pots with a plant sprayer causes less disturbance to your germinating seeds.
The second important point to note is temperature. Chili seeds require a constant temperature range of between 27-32 degrees C (80-90 degrees F).
This is easily achieved using a heated propagator, however an airing cupboard works extremely well for this purpose also.
Remember to keep checking your pots to see if any seedlings have emerged, as you will then need to move them to a well lit area such as a sunny window sill, otherwise you will end up with thin and wispy plants.
Re-potting your chili plants into larger pots
When your seedlings get 3 sets of leaves and are strong enough to handle, now is the time to pot them on into a bigger pot. Chillies need to be potted on as they grow, otherwise their growth will slow and you may well miss the fruiting season because of this.
Be careful not to damage the delicate roots when moving your seedlings and make sure you take as much soil as you can from the original pot to protect the root ball.
When potting on your chili plant seedlings, it is better to increase the pot size gradually to allow the plant to adapt to the increased space and grow strong roots.
A good way to tell if your chili plant needs replanting into a larger pot is by checking the drainage holes on the bottom of your pot – if you can see any root tips emerging from these holes, then now is a good time to transplant to a bigger pot.
In addition, if your chili plant suddenly droops for no reason and it has enough water, then this could also be a sign that it requires more space.
You can also plant your chili plant outdoors once the danger of last frost has gone, although chili plants usually grow quicker in warmer areas such as a sunny window sill or greenhouse.
When to water your chili plants and how much
Often overlooked is the importance of watering. One of the most common situations is over-watering. Chili plants like their soil to dry out before watering them again – they don’t like wet feet!
You can tell if your chili plant needs water by its leaves – if they are drooping, give it a drink. The best way is to use your finger to test the top of the soil.
Again, moist but not soggy is the goal here and if your plant looks well, then it probably is.
What to do when your chili plant flowers
Once your chili plant starts to produce flowers, you are doing well! Soon you will be enjoying the fruits of your labour, but now is a good time to highlight the importance of plant nutrition.
A lot is going when your chili plant is in the flowering and fruiting stage and you will need to make sure that your plant has the correct nutrients it requires in order to produce big juicy chillies.
You can feed your chili plant with a general tomato fertiliser as chili and tomato plants are very similar, however it is much better to feed your chili plants with a special chili fertiliser, as they do have specific nutritional requirements – Chili Focus fertiliser produces very tasty and juicy chillies and is organic based.
Remember to feed your chili plant twice a week when it is fruiting and once a week at all other times to make sure it has all the nutrients it needs throughout the different stages of growth. This also makes your plants strong when it comes to “overwinter” them for next season.
Pollinating the flowers on your chili plant
Unless your plants are outside where they are naturally pollinated by insects and the wind, then you will need to pollinate the flowers yourself as they open on your plant.
You can do this with a small soft brush by gently dusting each flower. You will then notice over the next week or so that the flowers start to fall off and the fruits will begin to grow.
Chili plants can also easily cross-pollinate with one another by insects or by air if the plants are close to each other, so if you are growing several different varieties, you may want to keep them apart as you will probably end up with some hybrids chillies.
Finally, make sure your plant gets lots of sunlight during this period and you will have some great tasting chillies at the end of the season!
Overwintering your chili plants for next season’s crop
A common misconception is that chillies are annuals, but they can and will come back year after year, producing more and more chillies each season.
Overwintering, as it is called, is the process of making sure your plant is ready to “sleep” for the winter. Feeding your plant well throughout the year can help make it’s roots and stem strong enough for the cold months ahead.
With a little care, a properly over-wintered chili plant can bring a larger harvest, which will also arrive a little earlier in the season compared to growing from seed again.
This is because when your plant “wakes up” in the spring, it already has an established root ball, so has a head start in the growing cycle.
The first thing to do when overwintering your chili plants is to pick all of the chillies from the plant when the growing season is over – this tells the plant to produce more in future.
Next you can prune back the plant to approximately 1/3 of its original height. This may sound harsh, but it allows the plant to conserve its energy for the next growing season by not having to maintain all that extra foliage, a bit like when you prune back a rose.
You will also need to keep your plants somewhere with a warm average temperature, where it doesn’t get too chilly in the night.
Remember that you plant will also require a lot less water while it is dormant – once every 2 weeks is enough. Again, you can use your finger to test this.
Your plant will slow its growth as it goes into hibernation, so don’t worry if you don’t see any new shoots for a while.
Come spring time, give it a few weeks and your plant will start to shoot and burst into life, read for the new years growing season with more chillies than you ever imagined!
So, what are you waiting for, plant your chili seeds now and soon you could be enjoying plentiful fresh chillies that you can cook and entertain with.
Have you ever wondered about the worlds hottest pepper?
Which pepper is it?
How do they measure its heat?
Is it safe to eat?
In this article we have answered all your questions about the world’s hottest pepper.
We’ve also squeezed in tonnes more interesting and useful information on the topic, so you feel totally clued up on this spicy fruit by the end.
Let’s take a closer look at the world’s hottest pepper:
How Is The Worlds Hottest Pepper Measured?
The world’s hottest pepper is measured in the same way as other peppers, which is with the Scoville Scale, which is often written as SHU which stands for Scoville Heat Units.
The higher the number, the hotter the pepper.
This scale was created by a person called Wilbur L Scoville who created something called a Scoville Organoleptic Test in 1912 whilst working for pharmaceutical company Parke-Davis.
This test was used to measure the amount of capsaicin in any peppers that were tested. Capsaicin is a chemical naturally present in peppers with the highest amounts usually found in the seeds and capsaicin glands (pepper innards).
It is capsaicin that gives you the spicy heat on your tongue when you eat a pepper, and that same heat can also be felt on your skin and other parts of your body.
You might already know this if you have ever accidentally touched your eye after touching a hot pepper!
In this instance Mr Scoville was not testing the heat in peppers for the reasons of cooking, but rather for the use of the peppers in a topical ointment that naturally produces heat when applied.
To find out the amount of capsaicin in any pepper he would dilute an alcohol based liquid mixed with the pepper and sugar until the heat was negligible to those testing the mixture.
This method was then equated to Scoville Heat Units EG: a 1500 SHU pepper would mean a person would need to be diluted with 1500 cups of water to not detect any heat in that water any more.
These days, humans don’t need to go through the same tasting method used by Wilbur in order for a chili to have its heat deciphered.
Instead, something called high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used, which measures the capsaicin levels inside a pepper, but the numbers created are then converted back into Scoville units.
Interestingly, whilst you might expect that the original Scoville test was widely subjective (depending on a person’s tastebuds) but not the HPLC because it is the most up to date measuring tool.
In fact, the HPLC has been questioned in regards to its ability to accurately measure pepper heat.
Some people feel that the way the test is done, and then converted to Scoville units places the heat of the pepper lower than it would be if it was put through the original Scoville testing method.
What Is The Worlds Hottest Pepper?
At the moment the Carolina Reaper, a cross between a bhut jolokia pepper and a red habanero, is the world’s hottest pepper, officially.
It is tested to have 2,200,000 SHU at its maximum – 200 times hotter than a jalapeño pepper. It was officially the hottest in 2013, but lost its crown until being tested in 2018 where it was found to be even hotter.
Originally named HP22B (Higher Power, Pot 22, Plant B), the Carolina Reaper is bred for its heat and was originally made by Ed Currie.
The fruit must be handled with gloves and although the main source of heat is the capsaicin glands in this pepper, you should use gloves when handling any part of the fruit.
The same can be said for any products with Carolina Reaper powder on, like the Paqui Chips original One Chip Challenge chip that featured all over Youtube a few years ago.
Trust me, this is not the kind of chili pepper you ever want to get into your eye.
Are There Hotter Peppers Than The Official Hottest Pepper?
There is a rumour that something called Pepper X, also created by Ed Currie (Carolina Reaper breeder) could be hotter than the Carolina Reaper and therefore could be the world’s hottest pepper.
Currie has suggested that the pepper could be double the heat of a Carolina Reaper, but it has not yet been tested and confirmed by the Guinness World Records team as of 2021.
Another chili rumoured to be hotter than the Carolina Reaper (but not as hot as Pepper X which is 3.18 million SHU) is Dragons Breath.
Dragon’s Breath chili pepper was tested to be 2.48 million Scoville Units but like Pepper X, remains unconfirmed by the Guinness World Records team.
Is It Safe To Eat The Worlds Hottest Pepper?
There are all kinds of unconfirmed rumours about people eating the world’s hottest pepper – the Carolina Reaper – and getting severe, permanent physical damage from their experience.
Some rumours even suggest that people have passed away after eating it.
None of those rumours have been confirmed, but all add to the hype of the world’s hottest pepper.
If you’re thinking of trying it yourself it is important to be aware of the risks. There has been a confirmed case of a person getting severe headaches for a short time after eating a Carolina Reaper.
At the very least you should be aware that eating this pepper is guaranteed to put your body through stress.
At the very least this means stomach pain, pain in your mouth and throat, sweating and watering eyes (plus a very difficult toilet time the next day).
At the most, it isn’t out of the question for you to suffer heart issues because of the capsaicin content, as detailed by this scientific paper.
Growers have suggested that the pepper is safe to eat (in a limited quantity) but realistically, even if you are in fantastic health you should be aware of the risks of eating the worlds hottest pepper.
The Paqui One Chip Challenge 2021
The original Paqui One Chip challenge featured Carolina Reaper pepper powder on one chip which you eat as a challenge.
It was featured on British TV and on pretty much every influencers channel. It was so popular, in fact, you couldn’t buy one of the chips for a long time because they were sold out and everybody wanted to try it.
The 2021 Paqui One Chip Challenge is even more extreme because it features a chip with the Carolina Reaper powder AND Scorpion pepper powder, the world’s second hottest chili at 1.2 million SHU’s.
It’s even more dangerous than eating the Carolina Reaper alone so proceed with caution.
Will You Try The Carolina Reaper?
Whether you try the Carolina Reaper or not, the fact is that the world’s hottest pepper has made a real impact on popular culture.
If you try it yourself, the chances are it will make a real impact on your tastebuds too!
If you do choose to give the hottest pepper in the world a try, please do consider the risks – this little fruit is not something to be messed with!
If you’re topping up your storage cupboard, or you simply fancy a fun and wholesome afternoon kitchen activity, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve got all you need to know about pickling chilli like a pro for perfectly preserved spicy treats made to last.
In this article we will look at what pickled chillies are, why you should pickle them and how to get the job done.
By the end, you’ll be ready to get your spicy glut pickled up and ready for using in all kinds of yummy recipes.
Here’s everything you need to know about pickling chilli:
What?
You may have heard about pickled items like gherkins and cucumbers, which account for nearly 60 thousand metric tons of vegetable production coming out of Canada alone.
What you may not have heard of is pickled chillies, which are not as common, but they are just as tasty!
A pickled chilli can be any chilli that is put into a sterilised container with vinegar (different types are used) and then sometimes spices and seasonings are added.
They can be pickled roughly chopped, sliced or whole depending on your preference and the size of the chilli/ receptacle.
Why?
Why try pickling chilli when you can buy pickled chilli?
Firstly, you can save money. If you like to have a larder full of tasty preserves and pickled foods, pickling chilli makes sense.
Globally, the sales of naturally healthy food and drink is worth nearly $260 billion USD, but you can save those dollars for yourself! At least with pickling chilli, which you can do yourself easily.
Secondly, it makes the most of your chilli harvests. We have been pickling our veg pals for 4,000 years to avoid food wastage and to build stocks between harvests. If you grow your own chillies or you get a few at a great price, pickling them stretches out the time that you have to enjoy those hot, spicy, tasty treats.
Chillies themselves are also healthful, and although they lose some nutrition when they are pickled, they don’t lose all of it. They contain vitamin C, B6, K1, potassium, copper and vitamin A as well as bioactive plant compounds and antioxidants.
All the benefits above give you an extra bonus of creating great preserves for yourself and to give as gifts to friends and family.
Pickled chilli look great, have a great shelf life and they give your loved one tons of healthy benefits too.
How?
Pickling chillies is really easy and best done if you have a glut of homegrown chillies, or you’ve been lucky enough to have been given a big batch.
To prepare pickle chillies, you should give them a good wash, and you can then either leave them whole or slice them.
Unless you tend to serve them up whole, usually it’s best to slice them and pickle them so they’re ready for use right out of the jar. They can be used in all kinds of yummy dishes like pasta arrabiata, chilli, guacamole and pizza.
Instructions –
Sterilising
We’ll give you instructions for the yummy pickling mixture below. First, here’s how to ensure that you keep the results nice and sterile. This process is essential to stop bacteria being introduced to the pickled chillies, which will then lead them to degrade and deteriorate.
By sterilising them you protect the items inside until you’re ready to open the jar and get stuck in to your tasty spicy treats.
To sterilise you need to:
Wash the jars in hot soapy water, rinse them and then leave them to dry naturally on a clean surface
Put the jars in the oven at about 175 degrees c for 15 minutes
Place your hot pickling mixture into a receptacle that is very easy to pour without spillage, like a spouted kitchen jug
Fill the jars leaving around ¼ an inch at the top taking care not to get any mixture on the rim
Do not allow the mixture to cool, and instead put the lids onto the jars (with a wax paper seal if preferred) when the mixture is still hot and seal tightly. You can also use a wax paper and cellophane seal secured with an elastic band
The mixtures will keep for about 6 months on average if kept in a dark and cool larder if jarred in this way. They should also last about four months in a fridge (once jarred and cooled) unopened
Pickling
To make the pickled chillies please follow these instructions:
Ingredients –
*Adjust according to the amount of chillies/ weight of chillies you are using*
One pound of chillies
½ cup of vinegar (usually white or cider vinegar works best)
⅓ cup white sugar
2 tsp high quality salt
1 tbsp mustard seeds
1 tbsp coriander seeds
½ cup of water
Instructions
Place the prepared chillies into jars along with a couple of bay leaves
In a saucepan mix together vinegar, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, salt and sugar and bring to a boil (open the windows as the mixture can smell really strong!)
Follow the instructions above to add the mixture to the jars
Which Peppers Are The Best To Use When Pickling Chilli?
When you are pickling chilli you can choose any chilli pepper you like, there are no restrictions on the veggies that you store.
Jalapeños lend themselves to the process as they are naturally juicy but not too hot, so they go with everything.
If you want to make more of an impact with a jarred gift, pickle some Carolina reapers or ghost peppers for a super hot addition to any meal. Just be sure to warn the recipient of the absolute fire contained in the jar!
You’re Ready To Pickle Chillies!
With all the tips above you are ready to start pickling chilli. Yummy meals and recipes are in your future with this brand new preserving skill!