Capsicums
From sweet paprika to habanero, capsicums are sold on two numbers: color and heat. We specify both, test both on every lot, and screen every capsicum lot for illegal dyes before it enters our building.
Paprika
| Item | Color Range (extractable color units) | Primary Origins | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Paprika | 80 to 180 | Spain, Hungary, China, Peru | Oil-free and oil-added grades; steam sterilized or untreated |
| Smoked Paprika | 80 to 140 | Spain | Sweet, bittersweet and hot |
| Hot Paprika | 80 to 140 | Hungary, Spain | |
| Paprika Oleoresin | 40,000 to 100,000 color units | India, Spain | Liquid; sold for color applications |
Red Pepper and Chiles
| Item | Forms | Heat Range (SHU) | Primary Origins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cayenne Pepper | Ground | 30,000 to 90,000 | India, China |
| Crushed Red Pepper | Crushed, with or without seeds | 15,000 to 45,000 | India, China, Turkey |
| Whole Red Chiles | Whole, with or without stem | 20,000 to 60,000 | India, China |
| Kashmiri Chile | Ground | 1,000 to 2,000 | India |
| Bird's Eye Chile | Whole, crushed | 50,000 to 100,000 | Vietnam, India |
| Aleppo Style Pepper | Crushed | 8,000 to 12,000 | Turkey |
| Ancho Chile | Whole pods, ground | 1,000 to 2,000 | Mexico |
| Guajillo Chile | Whole pods, ground | 2,500 to 5,000 | Mexico |
| Pasilla Chile | Whole pods, ground | 1,000 to 2,500 | Mexico |
| Arbol Chile | Whole pods, ground | 15,000 to 30,000 | Mexico |
| Chipotle Chile | Whole, flakes, ground | 5,000 to 10,000 | Mexico |
| Jalapeno | Diced, ground, green and red | 2,500 to 8,000 | Mexico, United States |
| Habanero | Ground | 100,000 to 350,000 | Mexico, Peru |
| Chili Powder (blend) | Ground | Mild to hot | Blended in the United States |
Specifying Capsicums
Color is measured in extractable color units. Heat is measured by high performance liquid chromatography and reported in Scoville heat units. Both decline with age, light and heat, so we store capsicums cool and dark, rotate strictly by lot and retest before shipment when stock has aged. If you need a specific color or heat held across a season, we will manage blends of lots to deliver it.
Dye and Adulterant Screening
Every capsicum lot is tested for Sudan dyes and related illegal colorants at an accredited laboratory before release. Our automated inspection system also compares the color spectrum of each lot against the expected profile for its origin and grade and flags anomalies for additional testing. See Testing and Analysis.
