Where to find hot peppers?

[Zorker]

My husband's birthday is coming up, and as part of it we wanted to have a pepper eating contest. He is particularly impervious to very spicy peppers, plus we want a range for other less hot tolerant guests to eat.

Any ideas what peppers I might get, and where I can find them around LA?

Thanks!

[raytamsgv]

Habaneros are exceptionally spicy. Cayenne usually have quite a kick. Serranos and jalapenos aren't nearly as spicy, but many consider them to be in the upper limit of acceptable hotness. Anaheims are rather mild. Here's some basic information about peppers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoville...

Where are you located? I would guess that any decent-sized Mexican market would have them. I've also been able to find them in places like Ralph's at different times.

[Zorker]

I'm located in the Valley.
I figured I could pick up some more common peppers at Ralph's... Vallarta's a good idea. My husband can definitely eat habaneros without a problem. I'm wondering if there's anything more exotic I can try.

[raytamsgv]

If he's eating habaneros, it won't be much of a contest. :-)

[Hughlipton]

I have a tongue that is constantly looking for a new burn thrill but I must admit that habaneros are top range for me. I had a friend who thought he would be cute and brought me a bottle of habanero pepper sauce which he said he heard was very good. I tried it the next nfight. No flavor, no tast just infinite burn. The next morning I called him and thanked him. I asked him if he had tried the sauce yet, to which he responded no. I told him he was really missing a treat. Two days later he told me he had bought himself a bottle and was going to serve it with NY steak that night. Neve heard another word. Payback is a b---h. And it felt so good.

[Servorg]

You might contact these folks (Melissa's) about the hottest pepper in the world (bhut jolokia). They are local to LA and evidently wholesale these to places around the country. Maybe they know of a local store that carries them? http://www.melissas.com/Products/Prod...

[JeetJet]

I use to eat lots of hot peppers including habeñeros and the scotch bonnet which can be the hottest of all peppers -- crazy hot! However, I found that the heat level depends on the batch you select them from because sometimes they are not as hot as they should be. I often thought my favorate hot chili, the "Thai pepper," was hotter. The Thai pepper I am talking about is the "Prig kee nu" (not to be confused with the Prig chee fah' -- both are green or red and can measure a few inches long). The Prig kee nu is the hot one and is also called the "Dragon Pepper." Although this pepper is not rated as hot as the scotch bonnet it still can sometimes be hotter than it should be and ..., well, you better have lots of chocolate ice cream or Broguiere’s chocolate milk on hand to put the fire out. I will add that, IMO, the flavor of the Prig kee nu is something very special, exotic, and that is reason enough for a lover of hot chili peppers to try it. I use to buy them at Pavilions in Pasadena but often they were out of them and I would ask the produce manager to order more. Maybe give them call and see if they can get them for you.

[vantuck]

I grow Bhut Jolokias at my house - if you want one of those for him to eat shoot me a message back and we'll set something up. If he can eat these then he can eat anything. Check out my friend eating one - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL_9CR...

[torchsong]

I thought that ghost pepper grown here was not as hot as if they are grown in India? So far I've only had ghost pepper sauce. I'd love to try the actual pepper!!!

[vantuck]

Restaurant wise - Agra Indian Kitchen on Lincoln. Best Indian on west side - and they can make any heat level.

-----
Agra Indian Kitchen
2553 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

[DiveFan]

If you're willing to try the 'nuclear' hot sauce route, the little shop called 'Light My Fire' in the Farmers Market specializes in them. I break out in a sweat just walking by....

I don't know the SFV, but most Thai and Vietnamese markets will have small, slim and fiery chiles to try.

-----
Light My Fire
6333 W 3rd St 230, Los Angeles, CA