# Jalapeño

Also known as Jalapeño Pepper, Jalapeño Chile, Chipotle (when smoked and dried).
Species: Capsicum annuum.

Jalapeño is a Capsicum annuum cultivar from Veracruz, Mexico. Capsi’s sourced range is 263–303,603 SHU (Lab-verified; typical 31,902). Flavor is grassy, bright, slightly sweet, peppery, smoky when roasted. Used for nachos, jalapeño poppers, pickled slices, salsas, guacamole. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.

## Heat sources

- 263 SHU · Lab-verified
  P. Pandey, J. Huo, Q. Zhang (2026) Frontiers in Plant Science · HPLC
  DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2026.1749488
  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2026.1749488

- 30,388 SHU · Lab-verified
  Bosland, P.W. and Coon, D. (2015) HortScience 50(7):1104–1105 · HPLC
  DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.50.7.1104
  https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.50.7.1104

- 44,354 SHU · Lab-verified
  P.W. Bosland (2010) HortScience · HPLC
  DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.45.10.1552
  https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.10.1552

- 33,417 SHU · Lab-verified
  P.W. Bosland (2010) HortScience · HPLC
  DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.45.10.1552
  https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.10.1552

- 48,313 SHU · Lab-verified
  P.W. Bosland (2010) HortScience · HPLC
  DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.45.3.443
  https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.3.443

- 17,125 SHU · Lab-verified
  P.W. Bosland (2010) HortScience · HPLC
  DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.45.3.443
  https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.45.3.443

- 9,401 SHU · Lab-verified
  L. Orellana-Escobedo, L.E. Garcia-Amezquita, G.I. Olivas, J.J. Ornelas-Paz, D.R. Sepulveda (2013) CyTA - Journal of Food · HPLC
  DOI: 10.1080/19476337.2012.716082
  https://doi.org/10.1080/19476337.2012.716082

- 303,603 SHU · Lab-verified
  Alberto González-Zamora, Erick Sierra-Campos, J. Guadalupe Luna-Ortega, Rebeca Pérez-Morales, Juan Carlos Rodríguez Ortiz, José L. García-Hernández (2013) Molecules · HPLC
  DOI: 10.3390/molecules181113471
  https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules181113471

- 18,728 SHU · Lab-verified
  Malak Alghamdi, Thirumurugan Rathinasabapathy, Slavko Komarnytsky (2025) Int. J. Mol. Sci. · HPLC
  DOI: 10.3390/ijms26104916
  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26104916

- 38,406 SHU · Lab-verified
  Malak Alghamdi, Thirumurugan Rathinasabapathy, Slavko Komarnytsky (2025) Int. J. Mol. Sci. · HPLC
  DOI: 10.3390/ijms26104916
  https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26104916

- 3,400–15,000 SHU · Lab-verified
  J.T. Marshall, V.L. Doperalski (1981) Journal of Dairy Science · Taste panel
  DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(81)82622-7
  https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(81)82622-7

- 4,000–50,000 SHU · Official breeder
  Chile Pepper Institute, New Mexico State University (2006) Chile Pepper Institute fact sheet
  https://web.archive.org/web/20080705090336if_/http://www.chilepepperinstitute.org/documents/chileheat.pdf

- 2,500–5,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Jalapeno Hot Pepper (2 Pack)
  https://bonnieplants.com/products/jalapeno-hot-pepper

- 2,500–8,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Pepper Joe's Jalapeno Pepper Seeds
  https://pepperjoe.com/products/pepper-joes-jalapeno

- 2,500–8,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  (2026) Burpee Seeds & Plants
  https://www.burpee.com/blogs/faqs/do-you-have-a-scoville-chart-for-hot-peppers-60000739266

- 5,000–30,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  (2026) Burpee Seeds & Plants
  https://www.burpee.com/blogs/faqs/do-you-have-a-scoville-chart-for-hot-peppers-60000739266

## Heritage

We don't have a documented family for this pepper yet.

Peppers bred from Jalapeño:
- [Tiger Jalapeño](https://web.thecapsi.app/pepper/tiger-jalapeno)

## Page sources

- [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalape%C3%B1o](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalape%C3%B1o)
- [https://pepperscale.com/jalapeno-pepper/](https://pepperscale.com/jalapeno-pepper/)
- [https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-types/medium-hot-chili-peppers/jalapeno-peppers/](https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/chili-pepper-types/medium-hot-chili-peppers/jalapeno-peppers/)
- [https://peppergeek.com/jalapeno-peppers/](https://peppergeek.com/jalapeno-peppers/)
- [https://www.gardenia.net/plant/capsicum-annuum-jalapeno](https://www.gardenia.net/plant/capsicum-annuum-jalapeno)
- [USDA FoodData Central - Jalapeño nutrition reference](https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168576/nutrients)

## FAQ
### How hot is Jalapeño?

Capsi’s sourced range is 263–303,603 SHU (Lab-verified; typical 31,902). Capsi uses a sourced range and a trust tier, not a single marketing number. How we verify heat: https://web.thecapsi.app/learn/heat-and-capsaicin/how-we-measure-heat

### What does Jalapeño taste like?

Bright and grassy when green with a crisp bite and clean heat. When roasted or smoked (as chipotle) it becomes sweeter and develops a rich, smoky depth.

### How do I grow Jalapeño?

Jalapeño: about 80 days to maturity, warm subtropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

### What can I substitute for Jalapeño?

serrano (hotter), Anaheim (milder)

Page: https://web.thecapsi.app/pepper/jalapeno
Catalog: https://web.thecapsi.app/data