Q: Hi Dave,I will be moving to Thailand in a few months and would like to increase my tolerance for spicy foods before I go. So my question is this: Is the increase in the amount of capsaicin that I can tolerate caused by repeated and increased exposure of spicy foods on the tongue, or in the digestive tract? If …
Can C. Pubescens Self-Pollinate & Cross-Pollinate?
Q: Hi Dave,Maybe you can help me out on this one. A few weeks ago I read in different books that Capsicum pubescens is incapable of self-pollinating, and that it can’t cross-pollinate with other Capsicum species. This year I had one Rocoto Canario plant (C. pubescens) in my greenhouse together with several C. annuum varieties. I’m quite sure it’s a …
From Indoors to Out
Q: Hello Dave,Early in November, I bought some capsicum seeds. Initially, I only wanted to test germination, but after they germinated, I planted a few of them. Kept under a four tube fluorescent fixture, they grow very well. The temperature is above 80 degrees F. I’m planning to start all over again in January, but I also would like to …
Vacuum-Packed Hot Sauce
Q: Dear Dave,We have a frozen vacuum-packed product. We would like to include within the previously described product a small portion pack of hot sauce. Will the hot sauce quality be affected? It is our understanding that frozen vacuum-packed products tend to have longer shelf lives than products packed otherwise. –Elliott A: Hello Elliott:The quality of the hot sauce would …
Sichuan Facing Heaven
Q: Hey Dave, I am looking for Sichuan Facing Heaven dried chiles. Is it possible they go by another name? None of the Asian markets in my area seem to have anything that looks like the Facing Heaven variety. Thanks, Karen A: Hello Karen:That variety is not available in the U.S. Substitute piquins.–Dave