The jalapeno pepper is a small to medium-sized chili that is prized for the hot, burning sensation that it produces in the mouth when consumed. It is a cultivar of the species Capsicum annuum.
In comparison with other chilies, the jalapeno pepper has a heat content that varies from mild to hot depending on how it was grown and how it was prepared. Most sources agree that much of the heat, due to capsaicin and related compounds, is concentrated in the seeds and the veins - deseeding and deveining can reduce the heat imparted to a recipe that includes jalapeno peppers. The jalapeno pepper rates between 2,500 and 8,000 Scoville units in heat. They are named after Jalapa, the capital of Veracruz. The popular chipotle pepper is a jalapeno pepper that has been smoked.
