Ingredient of the Month: Habaneros

10 fun facts about our spiciest ingredient!

1. Habaneros are native to the Amazon but have historically been found growing from Peru to Mexico.
2. They can range in color from white, brown, yellow, green, or purple to the more common red and orange.
3. In 1999 it was considered the hottest pepper in the world but has since been surpassed by other varieties.
4. If you can get past the heat they actually have quite a fruity flavor.
5. They can be 12 to 100 times hotter than a Jalapeno.
6. During the 1700's the Spanish colonists spread the seeds around the world, and it became so popular in Chinese cooking that it was incorrectly named after China when it was scientifically classified: Capsicum chinense.
7. The ancient Mayans brought it to the Yucatan where it is most widely grown today.
8. Most commercially available Habaneros are grown hydroponically.
9. A heatless variety called habanadas were introduced in 2014.
10. Just one pepper has over 100% of your recommended daily Vitamin C.