Jalapeño and Habanero are two of the spiciest ingredients used in dishes. They both belong to different groups of peppers. Even though they both are popular, they cannot be used in place of each other since they are very different.
Everything starting, from their production techniques to their taste to their spiciness level, is all different. Jalapeño is more similar to Serrano pepper having similar taste and origin. Habanero is very hot, and thus, not everyone can handle it.
These peppers are used variously in different ways like picking, grilling, barbecuing, stir-fried, baking, and in many more ways, and one should know their distinctive features before using them in food preparation.
Key Takeaways
- Jalapeno peppers have a milder heat and slightly sweeter taste than Habanero peppers.
- Habanero peppers are smaller and rounder than Jalapeno peppers and have a distinctive tropical fruit-like flavor.
- Habanero peppers have a much higher Scoville rating (heat level) than Jalapeno peppers.
Jalapeño vs Habanero
The difference between Jalapeño and Habanero is that they both are different kinds of hot peppers belonging to the group of chilli peppers. Habanero is hotter than the two. Also, mainly the Habanero is red/orange in color different from the color of Jalapeño, which is green color.
Jalapeño is a chilli pepper that is used in different dishes and is known for its spiciness. Jalapeños are medium in terms of their heat level, and there are more varieties of peppers that are hotter than this. The pepper can be used in both ripe and unripe forms.
Habanero is a hot chilli pepper that, when unripened, is green in color and, when riped, is red or orange in color. The taste is not tangy but very hot and sweet. It is hotter than Jalapeño and is a very popular ingredient in the making of various hot sauces and dips.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Jalapeño | Habanero |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Capsicum annum | Capsicum Chinense |
| Discovered in | Mexico | The Amazon |
| Calories on average | 4 | 15 |
| Average heat level | 4,000–10,000 SHU | 100,000 to 300,000 SHU |
| Shape | Oblong-shaped and slimmer in comparison to Habanero. | Habanero is mainly obtainable in Rouder, oblong, and lantern shapes. |
| Color available in | The unripe color is Dark green. And the ripe version of red color. | Habanero is green when it is unripe and mostly turns red or orange when ripe. |
What is Jalapeño?
Jalapeño is a pepper that is known for its mild spiciness. The hottest part of the pepper is its seeds and ribs. Dried Jalapeño is also very common in food dishes. It is also “Chipotle,” and the dishes that it is used in are not limited to savoury foods but in side dishes, sauces, dips, types of drinks, and even some desserts.
Constant watering is needed in the production of the pepper. The biggest producers of the chilli are California, then Mexico, and Texas, and It is the state pepper of Texas as well. The chilli pepper is not that hot and is considered mild, according to the Scoville heat unit. It is mainly water and is very low in calories.
Jalapeno is rich in Vitamin C required by the human body as it not only provides various nutrients but boosts immunity as well. The pepper is filled with vitamin K in comparison to other peppers. If someone didn’t handle the heat, a popular remedy to handle it would be drinking water or even a glass of milk.
What is Habanero?
Habanero is one of the hottest chilis around the world. The name of the chilli comes from Havana, a place in Cube. It is mainly used in making hot sauces and other dishes that need a high level of heat. It is heated but afterwards leaves a sweeter taste.
The hottest part of the product has to be the seeds as the membrane as well. So, if people can not handle a high amount of spicy, they should not use these parts in the preparation of a dish.
The body of the chilli is thin, and it has been tested that they help lower the blood pressure and cholesterol level in the body. Even though now there are other peppers available that are hotter than Habanero, the chilli received the Guinness world record of the hottest chilli in the year 1999.
Since they are very hot, one should be careful while eating or using them and take all precautions like not getting their hands around their face after using it, etc.
Main Differences Between Jalapeño and Habanero
- The most used form of Jalapeño is green in color, while in comparison, the most popular and used form of Habanera is available in orange or red color.
- Habanera is far hotter in taste in comparison to Jalapeño. To be approx, Habanero is 140 times extra hotter than the former.
- Jalapeño needs to be in regular watering when in production. On the other hand, Habanera needs water but in times when the pepper is dry.
- The shape of Jalapeño is oblong and slimmer in comparison to Habanera. Habanera is more rounded and in the shape of a lantern, depending on the choice of pepper.
- Jalepeno is more popular than habanera. Thus, it is easier to find Jalapeno in supermarkets than in Habanera.
- The taste of the hot peppers is different as well. Jalapeño is spicy and tangy once tasted in opposition to Habanera, which slightly gives off a sweet taste, even though it is hotter between the two varieties of chilli pepper.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814604008635
- https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Jalapeno_Peppers/p0CZDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=jalapeno&pg=PT15&printsec=frontcover
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