Chillies

[Digger]

So . . . just bought some Mixed Thai Chillies. Bag of five. One large red, large green, large orange, and a small red and small green variant.

The label says be wary of the Bird's Eye and Cayenne. Are they the two smaller ones? Rubbish Waitrose packaging. . .

[Romanymagic]

Birds eye chilli should look fat and round, not sure on the Cayenne, I guess a quick "Google" and search images will allow you a positive id?

[Shaolin]

As a rule of thumb, the smaller they are - the hotter they are. This is not entirely infallable however.

[Digger]

That's what I was led to believe too. I guess most chilli purchasers know what they are doing.

[Mobile Chicane]

I think the small ones are the hotter initially, but the larger ones have the more deceptively lingering heat.

I'd definitely take the seeds and white membrane out of the larger ones, and add the smaller ones 'as is' to taste.

[Wadeski]

surely that contradicts the "smaller is hotter" rule?

bird eyes are small and slightly wrinkled, the chillies you often find whole in Thai food. I wouldnt worry about Cayenne, they arent too bad.

Habaneros / Scotch Bonnets....whoo-ah

[Bob the Planner]

Romanymagic said:

...not sure on the Cayenne...

Red, about 3-4 inches long and about 1/2" across the top.

[exgtt]

Romanymagic said:

Birds eye chilli should look fat and round, not sure on the Cayenne, I guess a quick "Google" and search images will allow you a positive id?

I thought bird eye chillies were skinny little things?

[zakelwe]

Growing your own chillies is a very good idea, the bush is very attrative too. Note that if you underwater them whilst the fruit is growing it will be a lot hotter than if you give them lots of water

Andy

[whitechief]

exgtt said:

Romanymagic said:

Birds eye chilli should look fat and round, not sure on the Cayenne, I guess a quick "Google" and search images will allow you a positive id?

I thought bird eye chillies were skinny little things?

Small and can be Very hot.

[toasty]

exgtt said:

Romanymagic said:

Birds eye chilli should look fat and round, not sure on the Cayenne, I guess a quick "Google" and search images will allow you a positive id?

I thought bird eye chillies were skinny little things?

Confusing with Scotch Bonnets which are fat and roundish?

[exgtt]

zakelwe said:

Growing your own chillies is a very good idea, the bush is very attrative too. Note that if you underwater them whilst the fruit is growing it will be a lot hotter than if you give them lots of water

Andy

Ahhh! brill tip,

grew some last summer and they wern't that hot. I put it down to lack of sun.

Will give the above a try thanks!

Oh and before i grew the chillies, i thought red & green were two different types - not different ages lol.

[ClassicMercs]

If you want hot you want Bhut Jolokia - hottest in the world - but you won't get them in your supermarket.

My friend Nige (YorkshireChillies.co.uk) grew some this last year and realised production needs to trebble for next year. The seeds are pricey.

And in terms of growing - its damn hard in the UK -(commercially - up north) - but possible. Two years ago Yorkshire was wet and dull all summer. This last year started off very well but then August turned sour. Luckily though September improved and frosts stayed away well into November.

Growing some at home in the greenhouse or conservatory is much easier - good steady warmth and sun are the order of the day. Seed germination is the hardest thing for some varieties, unless you find someone like Nigel offering pot liners from late April. Garden Centres will also have some, but don't expect the same choice (just like pods in supermarkets).