Like the favor of habaneros but can’t get past the extreme heat? There are two new habanero varieties developed by Oregon State University for those with more delicate palates.
Two mild habanero peppers known as Notta Hotta and Mild Thing that retain the peppers’ unique fruity and floral fragrances and flavors, but have lower heat levels, are being released, according to an OSU press release.
“We had chefs walking up to them and looking at them and saying, ‘I know in my mind you’ve told me they’re not hot, but physically I’m preparing for intense heat when I taste these,’” said Jim Myers, a vegetable breeder at Oregon State who spent the last 25 years developing the peppers.
“The chefs have done some very interesting things that I would never have considered, like making a soda that’s flavored with these peppers. And I think there is other potential for flavorings in both savory dishes and in dessert-type dishes.”
Notta Hotta and Mild Thing have been cleared for release by Oregon State University officials, who can now work with seed supply companies interested in licensing the peppers. Myers expects that this year the varieties will be available at farmers markets, and that home gardeners will be able to grow them.
Read more about OSU’s development of the pepper