If you are a relatively new gardener, you may be interested in growing jalapeños at home. However, “jalapeño” is now more of a category of peppers rather than a single variety. In other words, you have many jalapeño types to choose from!
In this article, we’ll cover 11 amazing types of jalapeño peppers. We’ll discuss the different flavors and heat levels of each, along with any other special characteristics we have learned from growing our own at home.
If you’re looking to grow the largest jalapeño peppers possible, then the “goliath” variety may be exactly what you want. We loved these plants, as they were large, high-yielding, and produced big, uniform pods.
The average weight of our goliath jalapeños was 57 grams, far outperforming even the next-largest variety in our garden. It’s no wonder the creators of this plant went to such extremes with its name!
The goliath jalapeño is a hybrid variety, bred for a larger size, but we found it had good flavor as well. The heat level was right up the middle for jalapeños, likely around 5,000 SHUs on the Scoville scale. Overall, the goliath is our new standard variety until something else outperforms it in the garden.
If heat is what you’re after in your jalapeños, then look no further than the “jalafuego” variety. This impressive pepper is certainly the hottest out of the jalapeños we have grown, probably close to 10,000 SHUs.
However, the jalafuego is not just heat without the flavor. These were tasty, crunchy, and overall attractive jalapeños that would work for a variety of jalapeño recipes (like poppers or spicy salsa).
The plants were vigorous and productive, having little disease or pest issues throughout the season. So, if heat is your goal, the jalafuego may be the right choice for your garden.
The “jedi” jalapeño is a hybrid pepper bred for a high yield potential. These huge, towering plants were indeed among the most productive in our jalapeño garden, producing right up until the cold weather arrived.
Our jedi jalapeños averaged 44 grams and were between 4-5″ long (that’s pretty big for a jalapeño!). Overall, the plants were impressive to watch grow from seed, all the way to a bountiful harvest. If you want a reliable, workhorse-type jalapeño, then definitely give jedi a shot!
Jalapeno Gigante is one of the largest jalapenos and a favorite of cooks for stuffing. The glossy green peppers grow to nearly 5 inches long by maturity, which takes just over 2 months. That’s pretty quick for a flavor-packed hot pepper this size. You get plenty of moderate heat with each fruit grown.
TAM Jalapeño (Low Heat)
Texas A&M University developed the “TAM” jalapeño to be less spicy than traditional varieties. So, if you aren’t fond of scorching your mouth on spicy food, but love jalapeño flavor, the TAM variety may hit the sweet spot.
Coming in under 1,000 SHUs, this jalapeño is significantly less spicy than all the others listed here. Overall flavor of the TAM variety is on par with other green jalapeños, so you won’t be sacrificing good taste.
Another benefit of this variety is the plant’s tolerance of arid climates. So, if you live in a hot, dry region, the TAM jalapeño is likely to grow well.
If you want the earliest possible harvest, then the “early” variety should be at the top of your list. This standard green jalapeño is ready for harvest just 63 days after transplanting, a full 9 days earlier than jedi and other varieties on our list.
This early harvest date is appealing for those who live in colder climates with shorter growing seasons. The peppers are on the smaller side at around 3″ long, and have average heat, between 2,500-5,000 SHUs.
Even those relatively new to hot peppers know of the world famous Jalapeno, but Grande Jalapeno peppers are much larger than traditional Jalapenos. The size of the Grande Jalapeno is what sets it apart from other Jalapeno varieties, making it an ideal pepper for making Jalapeno poppers. Many people think of the Jalapeno as a very spicy hot pepper, but the Jalapeno pepper has only a mild to moderate heat level as it averages about 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Grande Jalapenos have the perfect amount of heat for those that like a little kick, but don’t want overbearing heat.
Although Grande Jalapenos are hard to find, the peppers are easy to grow. Other mild peppers that are easy to grow include Bell peppers, Mini Sweet peppers, and Serrano Tampiqueno peppers. Jalapeno peppers are the most popular pepper in the world because of their versatility, and Grande Jalapenos are a great choice because of their heat level, flavor, and girth. Grande Jalapenos are commonly picked and consumed while still green, but some people prefer to allow them to ripen before using them. For those looking for a spicier Jalapeno, the Billy Biker Jalapeno has more of a kick, averaging between 5,000 to 10,000 Scoville Heat Units.
Which Is The BEST JALAPEÑO Pepper? Tasting 8 Varieties – Pepper Geek
FAQ
What are big jalapeños called?
What are the best large jalapeños?
What are the different types of jalapeños?
Are larger jalapeños hotter than smaller jalapeños?
What are the different types of jalapenos?
There are many different types of Jalapenos that vary in color, heat, and flavor. You may prefer something bright like the yellow Jalapeno, or choose the TAM Jalapeno for a milder option. Here are 10 Jalapeno pepper varieties that you can grow. When I first started growing peppers, I had no idea there were so many different kinds of Jalapenos.
What is a jalapeno pepper?
Originating in Jalapa (Xalapa), Mexico, the capital city of the Mexican state of Veracruz, jalapeño peppers have mild to medium heat levels and a crisp, bright flavor, unlike bell pepper varieties which have little to no heat at all.
What are the hottest jalapenos?
The Billy Biker jalapeno is one of the hottest jalapenos, with a rating of 30,000 SHU. This is similar to the Cayenne pepper’s heat. The jalapeno grows up to three and a half inches long. Besides their heat, Billy Biker jalapenos are known for their unique flavor. 7. Mucho Nacho
How big is a jalapeno pepper?
A jalapeno pepper is a fruit of the Capsicum pod type measuring between 2,500 and 8,000 Scoville Heat Units. It is a medium sized pepper, measuring an average of 2-3.5 inches in length but growing up to 6 inches long or longer. Learn more about the jalapeno chili pepper from Chili Pepper Madness.