Q: Hi Dave, What peppers are used in clear hot sauces? Where to purchase and will they grow in the U.S.A.?A: Hello Pam: This is an excellent question. I haven’t looked at the ingredients label on a bottle of the clear sauces, but I’m betting it’s some form of oleoresin capsicum, which is an extract. It would be added in …
Red Scotch Bonnet Shape?
Q: Hi Dave, I wrote to you back in January inquiring about the difference between the Red Savina and the Caribbean Red. I have one more to add to this comparison – the Jamaican Scotch Bonnet Red pepper. It looks like they could all be the same pepper but if they are different I want to make sure I grow …
Tasting Superhot Sauces
Q: Hi Dave,I’m fairly used to native-hot Thai cuisine and tabasco. I have just ordered Vicious Viper and, after ordering, I noticed that Tabasco Sauce rates at 5000 Scoville Heat Units and the Viper at 250,000. So my question is, can you actually taste/eat the Viper sauce without falling into a coma? Are there any serious side effects to tasting …
Capsaicin an Acid or Base?
Q: Dave,Is capsaicin an acid or a base? Someone told me it was a base, but when I drink acidic drinks (soda, etc.) it seems to burn more instead of neutralizing it, whereas if it was a base the acid should help take away the sting. MikeHello Mike:Capsaicin is a base, but the capsaicin receptors in the mouth bind to …
’Red Savina’ vs. ’Caribbean Red’
Q: Hi Dave, Just something real quick for you. I am banging my head against the wall trying to figure out if ’Red Savina’ and ’Caribbean Red’ are the same pepper. Please advise. Oh, also real quick, in your opinion, what are the 10 hottest peppers in the world? I’m going to try to grow the 10-20 hottest peppers in …