10 types of PEPPERS everyone should know

There are approximately 4,000 varieties of chile peppers in the world, with more being cultivated all the time. To help you navigate the spicy landscape, here are 10 types of peppers to know.

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1

Also called: Sweet pepper, sweet bell pepper
Characteristics: Bell peppers aren't spicy, but they add color and sweetness to recipes.
Scoville heat units: 0

BELL PEPPERS

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2

Also called: Yellow wax pepper
Characteristics: Tangy and mild with a bright yellow color. A great source of Vitamin C.
Scoville heat units: 0 to 500

BANANA PEPPERS

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3

Characteristics: Less flavorful yet spicier than jalapeños, they're good when you want to add a kick to a dish.
Scoville heat units: 2,500 to 10,000

FRESNO PEPPERS

ANNA ALTENBURGER

4

Also called: Sweet Italian peppers, pepperoncini
Characteristics: These guys are only slightly hotter than a bell pepper.
Scoville heat units: 100 to 500

FRIGGITELLO PEPPERS

PATRICIA SPENCER

5

Also called: Pimento
Characteristics: Mildly spicy, it's used in pimento cheese and frequently sold pickled.
Scoville heat units: 100 to 500

CHERRY PEPPERS

LICREATE

6

Also called: Shishitōgarashi, kkwari-gochu, ground cherry pepper
Characteristics: Statistically, one in ten shishito peppers is spicy.
Scoville heat units: 100 to 1,000

SHISHITO PEPPERS

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7

Also called: New Mexico chile
Characteristics: Slightly pungent like an onion, with a subtle spiciness and smoky taste.
Scoville heat units: 0 to 100,000

hatch PEPPERS

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8

Also called: New Mexico chile
Characteristics: They're not as spicy as, say, a habanero, but spicier than a bell pepper.
Scoville heat units: 500 to 2,500

ANAHEIM PEPPERS

BONCHAN

9

Also called: Pasilla (when dried)
Characteristics: Only slightly spicy, with a prune-like flavor and black-colored flesh.
Scoville heat units: 1,000 to 3,999

CHILACA PEPPERS

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10

Also called: Ancho (when dried)
Characteristics: While they're relatively mild, they get hotter as they mature.
Scoville heat units: 1,000 to 5,000

POBLANO PEPPERS

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