Chipotle powder and smoked paprika both offer a similar flavor profile and color. Both are red pepper powders with strong, smoky characters. While they are a lot like each other, they are not identical so you should not expect them to provide the same results. Let’s get to know these spices better … [Read more...]

Gochujang and sriracha are two chili pepper preparations that look similar and offer similarly understated spice levels. Gochujang is sometimes referred to as the Korean sriracha; however, they have some important differences and are not interchangeable. If you want to find out how gochujang and … [Read more...]

Chili paste and chili sauce are considered the same product by many people. There are many different variations of each from all over the world, so you will often see the same product described as both paste and sauce depending on the source. Consider the fact that many chili sauces have essentially … [Read more...]

Gochugaru is a form of dried chili that you will often see in Korean cuisine. It is what gives kimchi its red color. Red pepper flakes are the same product that is sometimes known as crushed red pepper. You might see red pepper red pepper flakes/crushed red pepper in shakers on the tables of an … [Read more...]

Harissa and sriracha have been trendy over the last decade or so, but with sriracha being the more popular of the two by far. If you are unfamiliar with both, note that there are several important differences despite how much harissa and sriracha can - at times - look like each other. We will look … [Read more...]

Canned and fresh jalapeños are both used liberally in many Latin and Tex-Mex recipes. Each brings different qualities to a dish that you should keep in mind when choosing between them. How do they differ? Use our PepperScale Showdown below for help deciding when to use canned and when to use fresh … [Read more...]

Pickled jalapeños and fresh jalapeños will both enhance a meal if what you want is a medium to mild heat. But while it's all jalapeño here, the flavors couldn't be more different. If you are trying to choose between them, it is helpful to recognize really how different these two jalepeño options … [Read more...]

As they relate to chili peppers, the terms genus and species are used to classify plants according to their characteristics. Whether you are an enthusiastic lover of hot peppers or a curious cook, it is a good idea to have an understanding of the science behind this seasoning. We cover it all in … [Read more...]

A case of mistaken identity... Terms like cultivar, variety, and hybrid are used often when describing chili pepper plants and are also often used incorrectly much of the time. They are often used interchangeably even though the words have quite different definitions. Keep in mind that within the … [Read more...]