Characteristics and use of chipotle peppers

Chipotle chiles appeared in the Northern Mexican region when Aztecs used to smoke food as a way of preservation. Since then, this item is one of the forms how people can eat Capsicum peppers.

The Chipotle word has its origin in Mexico and quickly expanded to the west area in the United States, where there was a big influence of Mexican culture. Today, this is a word known by most of the people around the world who enjoy spicy food and it usually refers to jalapeño pepper, even though other varieties can be smoked.

The expression “Chipotle” takes different names depending on the way it looks and the region where it is produced. Therefore, chipotle is known as:

“Morita”, which means small raspberry because of its purple colour;

“Chile Meco” (because it sounds like “seco” that means “dry”);

“Chile Ahumado” which in spanish means “smoked”.



Other name for the chipotle form is “tipico” which has a double sense that means “typic” and refers to some variety of jalapeño that is named like that. Often people have a confusion between chile tipico and the morita because they look alike. Nevertheless it is important to know that morita chiles are not smoked as long as tipico and thus they maintain their consistency more leathery but their flavour is not as rich as the second one.

Other varieties that are smoked are: Pequin, green jalapenos, Serrano, Pucunahucho, Habanero among others.

The word chipotle is known as a mildy spice used as an ingredient for special dishes or industrial products as sausages. Nevertheless, as long as the demand of this new form of hot pepper has increased, the chipotle habanero has recently been introduced into the market as an alternative for a hot and flavory chili.

Heat scale of smoked chiles depends on the variety which maintains the regular heat level. Therefore if habanero is one of the hottest Capsicum peppers (200.000 to 300.000 Scoville Units), the chipotle form is also very spicy. In the case of jalapeño, it maintains its regular flavor which is considered medium (between 5.000 to 10.000 Scoville units). Other forms such morita or tipico are located in the lowest part of the “Hot-o-meter” (heat thermometer.

The chipotle chiles can be used in many forms including chipotle chili pepper powder, chili mash, flakes which combined with other ingredients can create a good adobo.

Useful Resources for SpiceSolution

Chipotle

Capsicum

Habanero Peppers

Chili or Chile Pepper Powder

Habanero Dried Peppers

Pickled Habanero Peppers

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