Food as Medicine: Five Ways Chili Peppers Can Help You Fight Disease & Illness
Capsaicin, the powerful compound that gives chilis their characteristic heat, also offers some serious health benefits.
Seasonal Snapshot: Growing, Cooking & Handling San Diego Summer Hot Peppers
Easy-to-grow and easy to love, hot chile peppers are a San Diego summer essential.
Jim Duffy grows more than 400 varieties of chile peppers at Refining Fire Chiles in Lakeside, including the fruity peachadew and some of the hottest varieties available, so you could call him an expert.
Growing Chiles in San Diego
Duffy recommends growing peppers in amended soil and full sun near the coast, and in the shade inland.
Cooking Chiles in San Diego
When handling chiles, use gloves and avoid touching eyes and skin.
Make shishito pepper tempura, quick pickled fresh chiles, or try charring Korean green peppers for zesty aioli.
Eating Chiles in San Diego
Find these seasonal favorites in farmers’ market treats like spicy tofu sauce from Just Young Fine Foods, local kimchi from Gogi Blvd., and peppery raspberry jam from Jackie’s Jams, which are divine baked into thumbprint cookies.
When a Chile is Too Hot to Handle
Scoville heat units (SHU) measure a pepper’s heat, with Jalapeños ranging from 8,000–10,000 SHU and habaneros starting at 100,000 SHU.
To soothe a burning mouth, drink dairy products such as milk, or chase the heat with bread.
For burning skin, flush with warm water then soak in a dairy product.
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