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    Home

    Poblano vs. Jalapeno: Which is Hotter?

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    Jalapenos are significantly hotter than poblanos -- so no substituting!

    They're also quite different in size, with poblanos typically being much larger.  Here's a look at them side by side along with their respective Scoville units:

    fresh chili peppers with scoville rating

    The Scoville Scale is a quick way to gauge the heat of a chili pepper.  Below you can see where the two peppers land in the scale -- note that it heats up as you go higher on the scale:

    Comparing jalapeno to poblano on the Scoville scale

    Growing conditions can affect the heat of a chile, and that's why you'll see a Scoville range instead of an exact number.   So using the above table, it's fair to say that jalapenos have a capsaicin concentration that is roughly 2-5 times higher than poblanos.  That's some heat!

    And their flavor?

    Poblanos have a unique flavor that you won't get from other chiles -- a rich, earthy flavor that works wonders in a variety of dishes, like this Roasted Poblano Soup.

    The key to this Roasted Poblano Soup is getting creative with the garnish. Crema, cilantro stems, and a dash of acidity will turn it into something otherworldly. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Note that using 4-5 poblanos still gives this  soup plenty of zip!  Just because poblanos are towards the bottom of the Scoville scale doesn't mean they won't bring the heat.

    And keep in mind that poblanos are roasted in most recipes -- this really enhances their flavor so it comes highly recommended if you're new to poblanos.  For example, in the above soup the poblanos are roasted for 25-30 mintues before being pureed.

    The key to this Roasted Poblano Soup is getting creative with the garnish. Crema, cilantro stems, and a dash of acidity will turn it into something otherworldly. So good! mexicanplease.com

    Jalapenos have a sharper flavor than poblanos and can be used either raw or roasted.  They are my default chile for a simple but delicious Tomato Jalapeno Salsa:

    This Tomato Jalapeno Salsa is the Mother of all Mexican Salsas. Getting the heat level to your liking opens up infinite possibilities. mexicanplease.com

    I like to test jalapenos by sticking the tip of my tongue here:

    Here's an easy, versatile recipe for a zippy Mexican Frittata. I find the chorizo-jalapeno-cheese combo irresistible but you can always make a vegetarian version too. So good! mexicanplease.com

    The heat can vary amongst similar looking peppers so it's an easy way to get a quick gauge of their heat.  But I wouldn't recommend this if you are sensitive to spicy foods.  More tips on handling hot chiles.

    jalapeno peppers

    Okay, keep in mind that jalapenos are hotter than poblanos and all will be well in your kitchen!

    You can always substitute a serrano for a jalapeno, but poblanos are such a unique bird that I don't consider any other pepper to be a worthy substitute for them.

    Let me know if you have any other questions about these chiles!  For reference, here are some other articles on my site to fill in any gaps:

    Serrano vs. Jalapeno:  What's the Difference?

    What is the Scoville Scale?

    What is Capsaicin?

    Buen Provecho.

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    Hey, I'm Patrick! I spent 2 years living in Cozumel and got obsessed with Mexican food. I built this site to share all the recipes and techniques I've learned along the way. Read More…

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