HABANERO PEPPERS

The habanero chili is a variety of chili pepper. Unripe habaneros are green, and they color as they mature. Common colors are orange and red, but white, brown, and pink are also seen. Typically a ripe habanero chili is 2–6 centimeters (0.8–2.4 in) long. Habanero chilies are intensely spicy, rated 100,000–350,000 on the Scoville scale.

The habanero chili comes from the Amazonas region, and from there it was spread in Mexico. One domesticated habanero, which was dated at 8,500 years old, was found at an archaeological dig in Mexico. Upon its discovery by Spaniards, it was rapidly disseminated to other adequate climate areas of the world, to the point that 18th-century taxonomists mistook China for its place of origin and called it "Capsicum chinense"—the Chinese pepper.

Today, the largest producer is Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. While Mexico is the largest consumer of this spicy ingredient, its flavor and aroma have become increasingly popular all over the world.

habanero peppers
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