Jalapeño

Jalapeño is a popular pepper in Mexican cuisine and in many other countries worldwide. Although the Jalapeño pepper is not as intensely hot as some other chilies we are familiar with, its unique aroma and flavor make it a versatile ingredient that pairs well with a wide variety of dishes.

In terms of heat, the Jalapeño pepper has a Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) rating of only 2,500 8,000 SHU (SHU stands for Scoville Heat Unit, a global measure of chili pepper heat). Compared to Thai bird's eye chilies, which have a heat level of 100,000 SHU, Jalapeños are much milder. However, Jalapeños are not the least spicy peppers; the mildest or non-spicy peppers are bell peppers, which have a heat level of 0 SHU.

Origins in Mexico: From Folk Medicine to Culinary Staple

The Jalapeño has a history spanning thousands of years in Mexico, originating in Xalapa, located in the state of Veracruz in eastern Mexico. This pepper was first cultivated and used by the ancient Aztecs, incorporated into a variety of traditional Mexican dishes, especially salsas, tacos, guacamole, and other spicy foods, becoming a staple ingredient in Mexican cuisine alongside rice, corn, and tomatoes. Beyond culinary uses, Mexicans also traditionally used it for treating various ailments, such as headaches and toothaches, due to the anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of capsaicin in the pepper.

The Global Spread of Jalapeño: Into World Kitchens

Today, Jalapeños are still widely cultivated and used in Xalapa, Mexico. However, commercial cultivation is no longer limited to this region. The Jalapeño pepper became known globally when Christopher Columbus, exploring the New World, introduced it to many countries. Currently, this pepper is cultivated in numerous areas, including India, China, Spain, Peru, and the United States, where it is popular for use in various commercial food products, such as snacks and different seasonings.

From Savory Dishes to Innovative Sweet Creations

Although Jalapeño peppers are usually associated with savory dishes, in recent years, Jalapeño powder has been used to add a unique flavor to sweet foods. The use of Jalapeño powder in desserts is a relatively new trend that has emerged over the past decade, driven by a combination of factors, including the creativity of chefs seeking to add more excitement and variety to cuisine.

One of the earliest examples of Jalapeño powder being used in a sweet recipe can be found in the cookbook Frontera Margaritas, Guacamoles, and Snacks by renowned chef Rick Bayless, published in 2007. This book includes a recipe for Jalapeño Chocolate Ice Cream that uses a combination of Jalapeño powder and fresh Jalapeños to add a spicy kick to the chocolate ice cream.

After the book's publication, the popularity of using Jalapeño powder in desserts spread. Chefs experimented with various ways to incorporate Jalapeño pepper ingredients into sweet dishes, leading to the creation of diverse menus such as Jalapeño brownies, Jalapeño chocolate truffles, and Jalapeño-infused caramel sauce.

While the idea of using spicy ingredients like Jalapeño powder in sweet foods might seem unusual, it's not truly different from other popular flavor combinations that have gained traction in recent years. For example, salted caramel, bacon-flavored desserts, and other unconventional flavor fusions have increasingly become popular trends in the culinary world that attract global interest.