Skip to content

Recent Posts

  • Best Bottles for Hot Sauce
  • Do All Hot Sauces Contain Preservatives?
  • Should I Cook Hot Sauce?
  • Top 20 Louisiana Style Hot Sauce’s
  • How To Cook With Hot Sauce

Most Used Categories

  • Making Hot Sauce (69)
  • Eating Hot Sauce (39)
  • Facts (27)
  • Ingredients (19)
  • Hot Sauce Industry (16)
  • Hot Sauce Business (13)
  • Selling Hot Sauce (8)
  • Uncategorized (6)
  • Recipes (4)
Skip to content
Hot Sauce Hell

Hot Sauce Hell

What every connoisseur should know about hot sauce

Subscribe
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Hot Sauce Recipe Worksheet
  • Survey
  • Free Info Products
  • Contact
  • Home
  • 2021
  • June
  • 19
  • 25 Most Common Peppers Used In Hot Sauce

25 Most Common Peppers Used In Hot Sauce

thomasrobertthompsonJune 19, 2021July 7, 2023

There are many varieties of hot peppers but all of them may not be used to make hot sauce. Some of the more common peppers used for various cuisine have a lower level of heat to them. However, the best peppers used to make hot sauce can reach some of the most extreme heat levels.

There are about 25 varieties of hot peppers that are most commonly used to make hot sauces. They are used to boost the heat of a sauce and are often overlooked for the flavor they add. Other hot pepper varieties may be used because of their availability or abundance of products obtainable.  Although there are over 500 varieties of peppers, the best peppers to use in hot sauce provide, heat, flavor and vibrant color. A commonly known hot pepper in a hot sauce can be the best pepper to support a strong marketing campaign.

Three things distinguish each variety of pepper from each other, and they are heat level or the amount of capsaicin, the vibrant color, and the often neglected flavor. There are high and low levels of heat within each variety of pepper and there can also be an assortment of colors and flavors from the same species.

Download the FREE infographic here that lists each of the best hot peppers to use in a hot sauce from this article. The infographic is an expansion of the Hot Sauce Worksheet and part of the Hot Sauce Recipe Workbook, designed to help create gourmet hot sauce recipes. Get the INSTANT DOWNLOAD here or the PAPERBACK here! This is the perfect document to guide you through making gourmet hot sauce!…and it starts with selecting the best hot pepper. Read more below…

The level of heat defines a hot pepper

There is a huge difference in the level of heat from one pepper type to the other and there can be variance within that pepper species as well. The intensity of heat from a hot pepper and hot sauce is measured in Scoville Heat Units or SHU. The SHU of a pepper is also an indication of how much capsaicin a pepper contains. The hotter the pepper…the more capsaicin it contains.

Capsaicin is responsible for hot pepper heat

Capsaicin is the chemical compound in a pepper that is responsible for heat. This occurs as a natural deterrent to prevent natural predators from consuming the fruits. It seems to work the opposite for humans because they seem to be drawn toward hot sauce. The hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it has, and this is a good thing.

Capsaicin has many health benefits to it, but the advantages could be lost in the hot sauce. Capsaicin does not have any flavor to it so the amount of heat in a hot pepper will not affect the flavor of a hot sauce.

Ripeness makes a difference in flavor and heat

Peppers will turn different colors throughout the ripening process beginning with green. If they do not reach their full ripeness, they will be very bitter in flavor and firm in texture. Tabasco® uses a bright red colored stick to determine the ripeness of each crop so they can harvest at just the right time.

Soil conditions determine heat level

The proper pH balance of soil can make a difference in how hot the peppers will become. However, even the most acidic soil will not make a bell pepper any hotter. Growing peppers in soil with lower acidic levels can be achieved by adding organic matter like compost or natural acids like vinegar. The soil conditions won’t affect the color of hot peppers as much as the right harvest time will.

Hot peppers come in a variety of colors

Throughout history, a hot pepper has always been commonly associated with the color red and this has been synonymous with heat. The color of a hot pepper can range from yellow to pale and dark greens into orange and red hews. There are some varieties such as a chocolate habanero that are dark brown and a purple Jalapeno that is…well…purple. These colors will change differently for each pepper variety throughout the growing season, and this will make a difference in the flavor as well.

Some varieties of hot peppers will change colors as they are left on a plant to ripen, and this will lead to an increase in heat level. The best pepper for a hot sauce can sometimes be determined by color especially if you have a series of different sauces.

Hot peppers are full of flavor

Aside from heat, many people may not be aware that a pepper has a variety of flavors as well. Flavor, like heat, can vary from pepper to pepper. I love the sweet and fruity flavor of a ripe Red Bell pepper…but I wish they had just a little heat to them. I make sauces with them but also include a spicier pepper as well. A jalapeno or habanero combines nicely with the flavor of orange or red bell pepper and if used correctly can retain the flavor of both.

Pepper varieties and their SHU

The best pepper to use in a hot sauce can often be defined by personal preference towards the type of sauce you want to make. Making a hot sauce with an extreme level of heat may include a Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Scorpion, or Ghost Pepper…or all three! However, a hot sauce unique in appearance may include a Scotch Bonnet or Habanero.

*contains Amazon affiliate links

Carolina Reaper 1,400,00 – 2,200,000 SHU

This is one of the hottest peppers in the world if harvested at the right time. Be cautious in using a Carolina Reaper in a hot sauce but it works well with some other common hot sauce ingredients. Always wear gloves when preparing a hot sauce with these peppers! Get seeds here, fresh peppers here or try Elijah’s Xtreme Regret using Carolina Reaper. This is the best pepper for a hot sauce of extreme heat!

Trinidad Scorpion 1,500,000 – 2,000,000 SHU

The full name of this pepper is the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion. These peppers mix well with fruits in a hot sauce but do not worry about the appearance because it just gets blended into a sauce. Get a bottle of CaJohns Trinidad Moruga Scorpion here or get live plants to grow your own through this link.

Naga Viper 1,200,000 – 1,382,000 SHU

This was at one time the hottest pepper in the world. Like the Carolina Reaper and the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, the Naga Viper has a fruity flavor to it. However, because of the slower “burn”, the flavor can be tasted more. This is one of the best peppers to use in a hot sauce that also uses fruit or fruity flavors.

Ghost 800,000 – 1,000,000 SHU

The Ghost pepper or Bhut Jolokia grows in many colors to include white and purple, but the most well-known variety is a bright and vibrant red. The flavor profile of a Ghost pepper is earthy and resembles root vegetables or vegetables grown in the ground. Yellow Bird makes a Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce that is under 24,000 SHU so you appreciate the flavor of the pepper. Get it here!

Chocolate Habanero 500,000 – 1,000,000 SHU

These peppers are slightly larger than a typical habanero and the pods are slightly larger. Chocolate Habanero is a deep rich dark brown color. These peppers still have the fruity flavor of a Habanero but also an earthy or smoky flavor as well. Punch Drunk uses Chocolate Habanero using peppers grown in the US. Get it through this link.

Scotch Bonnet 100,000 – 350,000 SHU

These peppers are named for the shape of a hat from Scotland they resemble. Their variety of colors and fruity flavors allow them to blend well with fruits like mango and papaya. Like other varieties of hot pepper, the Scotch Bonnet blends well with carrots in a hot sauce. Queen Majesty makes a delicious hot sauce using Scotch Bonnet and ginger. Try a bottle here! OR get plants and seeds to grow your own.

Fatalii 125,00 – 325,000 SHU

Fatalii peppers are a dark yellow to light orange color. These peppers can bring bright and vibrant color to a hot sauce not typically seen. Originally from Africa, the Fatalii have a citrus flavor to it not typical of a hot pepper. These peppers mix so well with a Mango Fatalii sauce from Horseshoe. Check it out here! A Fatalii is the best pepper to use in a hot sauce that you want to have a unique color.

Habanero 100,00 – 300,000 SHU

Habanero is the most common pepper used in a hot sauce recipe. These come in a variety of flavors but orange is the most common. They have a fruity flavor to them that hits the tongue before the heat, and they are often combined with fruits within a sauce as well. This is the best pepper to use in a hot sauce because of it’s familiarity to consumers.

Datil 100,000 – 300,000 SHU

Considered to have a sweet flavor to them the Datil has a similar level of heat as the Habanero. These are orange and yellow and have a slightly sweeter taste to them than the Habanero. Dat’l Do It Dat’l uses the Datil pepper out of Florida. Try some here! OR get seeds here and grow your own.

Peri Peri 100,000 – 120,500 SHU

Also called African birds’ eye or Piri Piri. These peppers pack a lot of heat for their size. A Peri Peri has a slightly smoky flavor to them with a bright red color. A pepper this small would take a lot of peppers but fortunately, that pack a lot of heat and flavor.

Thai Chili 50,000 – 100,000 SHU

There are many varieties of this pepper and all of them will have varying degrees of heat. This pepper is most often used in Thai curry paste and is the best hot pepper for a Thai inspired hot sauce. Like many hot peppers, a Thai Chili has a fruity taste to it and is used in many Asian-inspired hot sauces.

Peqiun 30,000 – 60,000 SHU

The nutty flavor of a Pequin packs a lot into a small pepper. These little bright red peppers are very hot for their size. Fat Cat has a great sauce with Pequin and papaya…yum!

Tabasco 40,000 – 50,000 SHU

Tabasco peppers are mostly grown in Central America, Mexico, South America, and the gulf coast states of the US. These are similar to Cayenne peppers in appearance and heat but very different in their flavors.

Cayenne 30,000 – 50,000 SHU

An aged Red Cayenne peppers are very common in many hot sauces and is usually the type of peppers used in a Louisiana-style hot sauce. This is the typical image you see when referencing a hot pepper; a long thin red pepper. Many classic hot sauces like Franks RedHot use a cayenne pepper.

Chile de Arbol 20,000 – 22,500 SHU

Chili de Arbol is another common hot peppers for a variety of hot sauce recipes. Get dried Chili de Arbol here for your own hot sauce recipe. OR try a classic hot sauce flavor from Lago de Chapala using Chili de Arbol. Get it here!

Serrano 5,000 – 15,000 SHU

A Serrano pepper has a dark green color to them similar to a Jalapeno but is much hotter. Their bitter flavor can be decreased with the addition of sugar in a hot sauce but they also pair well with other hot peppers.

Fresno 2,500 – 10,000 SHU

Fresno’s are slightly hotter than a jalapeno but look very similar. This is another type of hot pepper known for its smoky flavor. A Fresno adds great stand-alone smoky flavor to a hot sauce without using liquid smoke or other additives.

Jalapeno 2,500 – 5,000 SHU

Jalapeno is one of the most common peppers to use in a hot sauce due to the low SHU and its availability. Distinct from its dark green color and versatile use the Jalapeno can have a fresh and bright flavor without overwhelming heat. I have seen the SHU listed as high as 8,000. Get fresh Jalapeno here for about $.28 an ounce.

Chipotle 2,500 – 5,000 SHU

Chipotle peppers are smoked and dried Jalapeno. The smoking process reduces the SHU making them a popular pepper for chili. The smoky flavor works well in a hot sauce making it a popular selection in many hot sauces. This is the best pepper to use in a hot sauce meant to be consumed with meat.

Guajillo 2,500 – 5,000 SHU

A Guajillo is a dried Mirasol pepper from Mexico. Their heat level is considered very mild. A Guajillo has a great smoky taste with a hint of a berry flavor. This is a larger pepper that does not pack much heat for its size.

Hatch Chili 2,000 – 5,000 SHU

These are peppers grown in a specific region of New Mexico called the Hatch Valley. These well sought-after chilis are often roasted and used in a chili sauce. This is the best pepper to use in a hot sauce at a gathering where consumers have a low tolerance level.

Poblano 1,000 – 2,000 SHU

Poblano is mild in heat but has a delicious fresh pepper taste to them. They are one of the larger peppers on the list with an average weight of 55 grams. These peppers are often stuffed with chili and cheese.

Anaheim 1,000 – 1,500 SHU

Anaheim peppers have a pale green color to them with a mild level of heat. An Anaheim pepper has a bright and tangy flavor but will make a mild hot sauce if they are used by itself.

Ancho 1,000 – 1,500 SHU

An Ancho is a dried Poblano pepper. They have a dark maroon to brown color that will also present itself in a hot sauce. Another commonly uses pepper in Mexican cooking. They are typically used to make a paste-style hot sauce.

Bell 0 – 100 SHU

Although any color Bell pepper will have zero heat to them they are packed with flavor and complement many varieties of hot peppers. These peppers are available all year long in most grocery stores and markets. Try the Creamy Garlic Red Pepper Sauce from Dave’s Gourmet. It used Red Bell Peppers and Red Jalapeno for heat.

Oh hi there
It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox, every month.

Get The Hot Sauce Recipe Workbook FREE with sign up!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Post navigation

Previous: What you need to know about making a gourmet hot sauce
Next: Scoville Scale: Then and Now

Related Posts

Natural Preservatives For Hot Sauce Recipes

July 9, 2023 thomasrobertthompson

8 Syrup Types Used In Hot Sauce

November 14, 2021May 12, 2023 thomasrobertthompson

Adding Fruit Makes An Amazing Hot Sauce!

November 14, 2021July 7, 2023 thomasrobertthompson

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

About Me...

Hi I'm Tom...Hot sauce expert! I love hot sauce...and I hope you do too! Read More...or don't

Top Posts

  • 12 Standard Hot Sauce Preservatives...and How To Use Them
    12 Standard Hot Sauce Preservatives...and How To Use Them
  • 9 Things You Can Do If Hot Sauce Is In Your Eye!
    9 Things You Can Do If Hot Sauce Is In Your Eye!
  • Why The pH Level of a Hot Sauce is Important
    Why The pH Level of a Hot Sauce is Important
  • How To LEGALLY Sell Hot Sauce! A Guide for Entering The Hot Sauce Business
    How To LEGALLY Sell Hot Sauce! A Guide for Entering The Hot Sauce Business

Guide To The Hot Sauce Business: International Edition

Learn to manufacture, market, and sell hot sauce...anywhere in the world! This book covers the global requirements for making and selling hot sauce for success in the hot sauce business!


Guide to Selling Hot Sauce at a Farmer's Market

A complete guide to understanding local cottage food laws, how to get your hot sauce approved, what type of hot sauce sells at a farmer's market, how to succeed at sales, & state by state requirements, and more...Get the paperback, hardcover or kindle HERE from Amazon...or save 20% with the Pocket Companion.


How To Start A Hot Sauce Business 2nd Edition

This is a huge resource on starting a hot sauce business with a focus on state and federal regulations. Includes everything to start selling everywhere from local farm markets to regional store chains. Available as an instant download HERE and as a paperback on Amazon HERE. Or get the recently released hardcover HERE.

BUY

Guide Hot Sauce pH

The pH of a new hot sauce recipe could determine its shelf life, duration of freshness and its eligibility as a cottage food. This is the information you can't find! Get the paperback HERE from Amazon or download the PDF HERE.


Guide To The Hot Sauce Business

OUR BEST SELLER! This guidebook breaks down successfully starting a hot sauce business in monthly increments. If you have decided you want to start a hot sauce business but don't know where to start...GET THIS BOOK! Get this top seller as a paperback on Amazon HERE or as an instant download HERE.

BUY

Available on these great sites:


Guide To Making Hot Sauce

Making delicious and original hot sauce recipes is super easy with this guide. Learn the secrets of making your own unique hot sauces that are ready for store shelves. Get the recently published paperback HERE on Amazon or the instant download HERE.

BUY

Hot Sauce Recipes

Get 50 delicious and unique gourmet hot sauce recipes with detail directions to make one of a kind hot sauces. Each recipe stands alone using ingredients such as blueberries, mushrooms, and bourbon! This book includes note-taking pages to alter each recipe to your liking. Get the paperback HERE on Amazon or the instant download HERE.

BUY

Understanding Small Business

This book covers all the basic information about small business enterprise and entrepreneurship. Many small business startup and operate with a similar business model to include the need for a business plan and obtaining the proper funding. Get the paperback HERE on Amazon or the instant download HERE.

BUY

Legal Disclaimer

This site is owned and operated by Hot Sauce Hell headquartered in Rochester, NY. Hot Sauce Hell is a participating member of Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program for sites to earn fees through advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic to other businesses. 


Oh hi there
It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox, every month.

Get The Hot Sauce Recipe Workbook FREE with sign up!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.


LATEST POSTS

  • Best Bottles for Hot Sauce
  • Do All Hot Sauces Contain Preservatives?
  • Should I Cook Hot Sauce?
  • Top 20 Louisiana Style Hot Sauce’s
  • How To Cook With Hot Sauce

Pure Hot Sauce Company

...We have carefully crafted this sauce to bring out the full flavor and heat of the habanero pepper, while also balancing it with other high quality ingredients to create a complex and nuanced taste experience...

Copyright All Rights Reserved
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: