Habanero: Different Varieties at a Glance

Habanero chillies: The hottest varieties

Habaneros are known for their extraordinarily high level of heat, but also for their intense, fruity taste. The following varieties give your dishes a fiery note. Attention: You should always wear gloves during preparation!

• Habanero Red: This variety reaches a heat level of 10 on the Wilbur Scoville scale and is one of the hottest varieties (up to 500,000 Scoville). The almost round fruits are approx. 5 cm in size and are bright red when ripe.
• You can use the Habanero Red fresh when cooking. It is particularly good in salsa or in combination with tropical fruits.
• Chocolate Habanero: This variety is characterized by its chocolate brown color when ripe. It also has the unique fruity taste and the typical sharpness of all Habaneros (approx. 400,000 Scoville).
• However, the sharpness of this variety sets in late. For this reason it is well suited for chutneys, sauces or relishes.
• Habanero Fatalii: This variety comes from Central Africa. Their fruits are rather elongated, tapering to a point and ripen yellow. The Habanero Fatalii also achieves the highest level of heat (up to 500,000 Scoville).
• The spiciness of this variety lasts particularly long and is accompanied by a lemony aroma. Because of this, they go well with salsas featuring tropical fruits like mango or pineapple. They are also suitable for drying and processing into spice powder.

Mild habanero varieties

Although it’s hard to believe given the fact that they’re closely related to the hottest varieties, there are also sweet and mild Habaneros. They are suitable for anyone who does not tolerate or does not like spicy food, but still wants to enjoy the fruity taste of the pods.

• Sweet Habanero: Visually, it is very similar to its spicy relatives with its rather round, crumpled shape and light red color.
• It also has the typical fruity Habanero flavor in terms of taste, but without the spiciness. She gets a 0 on the scale. The variety is therefore simply suitable for snacking or for salads.
• NuMex Suave Orange: This strain was bred at New Mexico State University to be mild on purpose. It still has a certain sharpness (about 500 Scoville). On the scale, however, it only achieves a 2.
• This mild spiciness ensures that you give your dishes a piquant note, but you can enjoy the fruity aroma without a burning tongue. It is therefore well suited for stuffing and stewing.
• Trinidad Perfume: This Habanero is also characterized by its lower degree of heat. It reaches the third level on the scale (0-1000 Scoville). Their aroma is very complex and reminiscent of melon and cucumber.
• The fruits are very suitable for drying or can be processed fresh directly.