Mild Habenero-type peppers

Don S · September 20, 2018

I've read that Habenero's have a unique flavor, but their extreme heat shrivels my flavor buds. Some friends recommended varieties that supposedly taste like Habeneros but have little or no heat like Habanada, Aji Delight, Trinidad Perfume and Zavory.

I grew two Habanada plants this year, and they responded with dozens of fruit each, but with hardly any taste at all. They also have thin walls so they don't make a substantial addition to my usual pepper recipes.

Can anyone recommend from your experience another variety I can try next year, either from my friends' list above or a similar mild pepper that tastes like a chili?

AlittleSalt · September 20, 2018

Going back to one variety that I didn't like at all was NuMex Suave Orange Habanero. It was like eating a bale of hay with pine needles. No heat

sdambr · October 23, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

Going back to one variety that I didn't like at all was NuMex Suave Orange Habanero. It was like eating a bale of hay with pine needles. No heat

So funny, I have grown that one too. We actually love it, and it has been my most requested pepper. Full disclosure... none of us can take the heat of the habanero types bu love the flavor. A jalapeno is about the top of our threshold.

Salsacharley · September 20, 2018

You can try Numex Trick or Treat. I found it very close to classic habanero flavor with no heat. Its not for me but if you can't take the heat, stay with Trick or Treat.

imp · September 21, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don S

I've read that Habenero's have a unique flavor, but their extreme heat shrivels my flavor buds. Some friends recommended varieties that supposedly taste like Habeneros but have little or no heat like Habanada, Aji Delight, Trinidad Perfume and Zavory.

I grew two Habanada plants this year, and they responded with dozens of fruit each, but with hardly any taste at all. They also have thin walls so they don't make a substantial addition to my usual pepper recipes.

Can anyone recommend from your experience another variety I can try next year, either from my friends' list above or a similar mild pepper that tastes like a chili?

I'll be growing some of the varieties you list above next year. The Habanada was tasty before, when I grew it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salsacharley

You can try Numex Trick or Treat. I found it very close to classic habanero flavor with no heat. Its not for me but if you can't take the heat, stay with Trick or Treat.

I'll add that to the list and see about getting some seed for it! Thanks for suggesting it.

Worth1 · September 20, 2018

Best is to get use to hot peppers.

Worth

Cole_Robbie · September 21, 2018

If you combine a superhot pepper with the right amount of otherwise bland food, you can get the taste without the heat. 2-3 peppers to about a pound of dried beans or lentils works for me, cooked slowly on a stove top.

imp · September 21, 2018

You could also contain the peppers in a spice bag, so they do not break down and leave seeds for the unwary, LOL!!

roper2008 · September 23, 2018

I've tried trinidad perfume years ago. It was okay. I never did cook with it. I like Red
Habanero's better than the orange. You need to try different one's every year until you
find the right one. It's fun trying different peppers anyway.

greenthumbomaha · September 25, 2018

Aji Dulce is another heatless Habanero type pepper. I bought a plant and grew it in a hanging basket (way too small for this plant). Prolific, ripened early, no heat to my palate but the taste of habaneros is not to my liking.

I purchased Aji Rico at the same time. It took a tad longer to ripen. It had a little zip to it. I liked the flavor of this one. If you like the strong flavor of a green bell pepper but have trouble growing them, this is a good pepper for you.

- Lisa

AlittleSalt · September 25, 2018

Lisa, after my experience with Aji Dulce and NuMex Suave Orange Habanero - along with whatever variety they sell at the grocery stores - I don't care for the way they taste either. I know it's an individual type thing - we all have different tastes. I'm agreeing with you on this one

Don S, it is a unique flavor. You either like it or you don't. It is worth growing if you have the space to grow it. I felt that I needed to find out myself.

Don S · December 23, 2018

Thanks for all the advice. It's seed ordering time and I'm going to try NuMex Suave Orange and Roulette this year, and some others next year.

October 23, 2019

Just mix your hot peppers with melted cheese, or sour cream, in the stuff you cook. The heat will go way down.

Orange Scotch Bonnets taste similar to orange Habaneros. They're pretty hot, still, but significantly less hot than Habaneros. I think the Habanero has better flavor, though. It has a different kind of heat, too.

I've tried a fair amount of peppers, and other than the Scotch Bonnet, none of them tasted like the orange Habanero I tried. Aji Omnicolor at its orange stage was kind of close, though (when red it's different). I have, however, found some really good tasting peppers, even if they're different: e.g. Aji Dulce 1 (when green) and Aji Habanero. Aji Dulce 1 is very mild. Aji Habanero is about as hot as Cayenne. Aji Omnicolor is about that hot to a lot hotter.

Nematode · October 23, 2019

Slice them (habs) and soak them in vodka.
They will taste great, be milder, and keep a loooong time.
Beware the vodka it's nuclear.

September 20, 2018	#1
Don S Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Westbrook, CT Posts: 41	Mild Habenero-type peppers I've read that Habenero's have a unique flavor, but their extreme heat shrivels my flavor buds. Some friends recommended varieties that supposedly taste like Habeneros but have little or no heat like Habanada, Aji Delight, Trinidad Perfume and Zavory. I grew two Habanada plants this year, and they responded with dozens of fruit each, but with hardly any taste at all. They also have thin walls so they don't make a substantial addition to my usual pepper recipes. Can anyone recommend from your experience another variety I can try next year, either from my friends' list above or a similar mild pepper that tastes like a chili?

September 21, 2018	#8
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	You could also contain the peppers in a spice bag, so they do not break down and leave seeds for the unwary, LOL!! __________________ I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing.

October 23, 2019	#13
shule1 Guest Posts: n/a	Just mix your hot peppers with melted cheese, or sour cream, in the stuff you cook. The heat will go way down. Orange Scotch Bonnets taste similar to orange Habaneros. They're pretty hot, still, but significantly less hot than Habaneros. I think the Habanero has better flavor, though. It has a different kind of heat, too. I've tried a fair amount of peppers, and other than the Scotch Bonnet, none of them tasted like the orange Habanero I tried. Aji Omnicolor at its orange stage was kind of close, though (when red it's different). I have, however, found some really good tasting peppers, even if they're different: e.g. Aji Dulce 1 (when green) and Aji Habanero. Aji Dulce 1 is very mild. Aji Habanero is about as hot as Cayenne. Aji Omnicolor is about that hot to a lot hotter. Last edited by shule1; October 23, 2019 at 05:35 AM.

September 20, 2018	#2
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Going back to one variety that I didn't like at all was NuMex Suave Orange Habanero. It was like eating a bale of hay with pine needles. No heat

September 20, 2018	#4
Salsacharley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,052	You can try Numex Trick or Treat. I found it very close to classic habanero flavor with no heat. Its not for me but if you can't take the heat, stay with Trick or Treat.

September 20, 2018	#6
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Best is to get use to hot peppers. Worth

September 21, 2018	#7
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	If you combine a superhot pepper with the right amount of otherwise bland food, you can get the taste without the heat. 2-3 peppers to about a pound of dried beans or lentils works for me, cooked slowly on a stove top.

September 23, 2018	#9
roper2008 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Virginia Bch, VA (7b) Posts: 1,337	I've tried trinidad perfume years ago. It was okay. I never did cook with it. I like Red Habanero's better than the orange. You need to try different one's every year until you find the right one. It's fun trying different peppers anyway.

September 25, 2018	#10
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	Aji Dulce is another heatless Habanero type pepper. I bought a plant and grew it in a hanging basket (way too small for this plant). Prolific, ripened early, no heat to my palate but the taste of habaneros is not to my liking. I purchased Aji Rico at the same time. It took a tad longer to ripen. It had a little zip to it. I liked the flavor of this one. If you like the strong flavor of a green bell pepper but have trouble growing them, this is a good pepper for you. - Lisa

December 23, 2018	#12
Don S Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Westbrook, CT Posts: 41	Thanks for all the advice. It's seed ordering time and I'm going to try NuMex Suave Orange and Roulette this year, and some others next year.

October 23, 2019	#14
Nematode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: massachusetts Posts: 1,710	Slice them (habs) and soak them in vodka. They will taste great, be milder, and keep a loooong time. Beware the vodka it's nuclear.