Jalapeno is a type of chili pepper, a variety of Capsicum annuum. It was developed by horticulturist Fabián Garcia at New Mexico State University’s Chile Pepper Institute, from which it takes its name.

The jalapeño is sometimes confused with the similar-sounding chile habanero, which is a different species entirely.

Jalapeños are commonly pickled as part of Mexican cuisine and are also used in other cuisines around the world. Their heat can vary significantly, with some varieties being very hot while others have little or no heat at all. The jalapeño is named for Xalapa (formerly known as Jalapa), Veracruz, Mexico.[1]

The jalapeño was bred from the wild chiltepín (Capsicum annuum var. aviculare) in about 1908 by Fabián García at New Mexico State University’s Chile Pepper Institute in Las Cruces, New Mexico.[2] It was released to commerce in 1959.[3]

In 2018, Guinness World Records declared “Carolina Reaper” peppers as the hottest on earth, measuring 2 million SHU on average and peaking at 1,569,300 SH.

Last modified: September 5, 2022