The Hottest Pepper Blog

March 30, 2010

Bhut Jolokia Smoke Grenades–OUCH!!! Go Indian Army!!!

Filed under: Ask Jamie, Information — Tags: , , — admin @ 3:03 am

chili bhut pepper 300x200 Bhut Jolokia Smoke Grenades OUCH!!! Go Indian Army!!!Aloha Gang,

Well, by now I am sure a lot of you have heard about the Indian army getting approval to use the Bhut Jolokia pepper as the main ingredient in smoke grenades.  They will be used as an anti-terrorist defense that will hurt but not kill.  I am sure that it will be used to disperse crowds,  force perts out of holed up locations, etc.  I can tell you from first hand experience that it will work.  Go get ‘em Indian Army–Bhut Jolokia rules!

During our harvest season, we sometimes harvest 1,000 peppers in a day.  Each and every Bhut Jolokia pepper has the seeds taken out by hand.  We wear 4 layers of vinyl gloves, a respirator, and long sleeve shirts.  Further, there is a beach towel covering our laps.  Those peppers are juicy and somehow, that hot,hot capsaicin squirts out everywhere when slicing the peppers open.  The 4 layers of gloves lasts only about an hour before they have to be changed. What I am saying is that they are very dangerous and can give you an unbelievable amount of pain and suffering.  During the harvest season, my friends don’t stop by, my girlfriend won’t get near me, and frankly, it’s a lonely, lonely time of year.  I am toxic, and I leave a trail of Bhut Jolokia pain and suffering everywhereI go.  It’s on every part of my body eventually, and I mean every part. Sometime at night and I writhing in pain as I try to go to sleep.  Yes, the peppers have somehow gotten into my bed, and believe me that’s not funny.  I wake up tired the next morning with dark circles under my eyes, wondering how in the world I got into this mess.  I keep hearing the Oliver Hardy quote- “Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into.”  But the problem is, I have gotten into it all by myself!

So, it’s the Bhut Jolokia pepper and the Indian army joining forces to keep the bad guys in check.  So, throw those Bhut Jolokia smoke grenades and more power to the Bhut!

Keep those questions coming,  and keep planting those Bhuts!  And, if any of you out there make a Bhut Jolokia hand grenade, please send me a sample!

Jamie

March 22, 2010

Can I Freeze Peppers?

Filed under: Ask Jamie — Tags: , , — admin @ 10:39 pm

freezer 150x150 Can I Freeze Peppers?

You ask them, Jamie answers them! Here’s another edition of Ask Jamie, with a wonderful question on freezing peppers.

Question
Hi, I heard about these peppers and have read through your website (and a few others).  When is the time of year to be able to buy whole peppers from you ?   My recipe for chilli is a bit warm (Jalapenos and Habaneros, I really prefer the Habeneros because I like the fruity taste of them (and also of course the heat). I would like to have a very hot version of my chilli using Habeneros and the Ghost pepper. Obviously I dont know how much to use and still be edible, I’ll have to use a little, and add small amounts until I get it where I want it.

A couple of questions:
1) When would I be able to buy whole peppers from you ?
2) Does freezing the pepper until used have an effect on flavor ? (I imagine yes, but not sure how much).
3) Since you are the experts on these peppers, any handy tips on how/how much to use ? (I am aware of the need to be careful – made that mistake with Habeneros once).
Thanks, and I’ll place my order after receiving your feedback (might get some powder for now since you are out of the actual peppers according to your site).
~JC Harris

Answer
Aloha JC,

Thanks for your inquiry.  Just like the Habanero pepper, the Bhut Jolokia has a wonderful flavor. It also has an intense back heat.  I cannot tell you how much to use as this is very, very subjective.  You just have to experiment.
As far as the freezing goes, we pick our pepper when they are bright red, and very ripe.  Not one pepper ripens in transit, or is picked before it’s time.  They are then de-seeded by hand which is a huge pain in the butt.  The peppers are then either, sun dried, or dehydrated.  Then they are vacuum packed and frozen.  You can re-hydrate them if you wish, and many of my customers do this.
I would purchase the pepper flakes and experiment with them.  You are not going to be able to use the fresh peppers much anyway because they have to be diced so fine or you could hurt someone who eats a chunk. Not a nice thing to do.
We will have fresh peppers again around June 1st.
Mahalo and Aloha,
Jamie

thehottestpepper.com

January 13, 2010

New Year Testimonials

Filed under: Testimonials — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 2:33 pm

happy new year fireworks 300x201 New Year Testimonials

Happy New Year once again, truly looking forward to what 2010 has to bring.  For now that’s some great feedback!  Whether you’re a Culinary Chef, a customer or a Bhut Jolokia enthusiast, we love hearing from you so keep it coming!

“As a chef, currently Sous Chef for the only three time “James Beard Award” winner in history, I strive to use the best quality ingredients I can find. With the Waimea Bay Chili Pepper Company you can be assured you are getting the absolute best quality product. Let me assure you, you have never eaten anything as hot as what Jamie has!! NO where can you find the REAL thing, but here. You will find some dried, smoked, mass produced product out of India, if that is what you want, Crap. Don’t waste you’re time. Weather it’s the seeds, so you can grow your own, or (if you are lucky enough) some of the flake he has, YOU ARE GETTING THE REALLY SCARY STUFF!! (Seriously, I ate a half of one, and contemplated ripping my tongue, lips and throat out!!!) I have made a good friend in my dealings with this company. And if he wasn’t as good of a guy he could sell these things for twice what he is and I would still pay. I wasted close to $1,000 dollars and almost two years of searching for a source for REAL Jolokia and now I’ve found it.”

~Justin Bailey - Senior Soups Chef, Morgan’s In the Desert
La Quinta Resort & PGA West
The Waldorf Astoria Collection

“Man I can not tell you how much I am diggin these peppers.  I have incorporated the peppers into my salsa rojo and tomatillo salsa.  WHAT a unexpected BANG it adds to the food.  I use the “bhut dust” in my dry rubs for my smoked pork, chicken, ribs and brisket.  Really adds that subtle heat that is expected in good Texas BBQ.  I have used all types of hot peppers but nothing compares to the volcanic heat these give to food as will as a very unique flavor.

Thanks again for these INSANELY VOLCANIC HOT PEPPERS!!”

Patrick Gerac
Executive Chef
Houston Marriott at the Texas Medical Center

September 28, 2009

The Hottest Pepper Featured on FOX 5 Morning News

Filed under: Fresh garden eating, Where is Jamie — Tags: , , , — admin @ 1:54 pm

Many of you have seen Jamie’s video on youtube and the hot and fiery repercussions for eating just a piece of the Bhut Jolokia pepper.  This morning on the Fox 5 Morning news with Arthel Neville Jamie ate an ENTIRE BHUT JOLOKIA! The video doesn’t get to show what happened an hour later, but let’s say it was many times worst than the original Man vs Pepper youtube video and it was an insanely painful experience.  Click to view the video and once again thanks to everyone for your continued support!

September 21, 2009

Join Me for HOTTER THAN HELL NIGHT!

Filed under: Information, Where is Jamie — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 5:06 pm

HOTTER THAN HELL NIGHT

In keeping with “Restaurant Week”, This FRIDAY September 25th, 2009, join me (Jamie Kocher) for “HOTTER THAN HELL NIGHT” as Chef Justin Baily cooks up a delectable array of spicy dishes featuring the world’s hottest pepper, The Bhut Jolokia.

hotter than hell thumb Join Me for HOTTER THAN HELL NIGHT!

CLICK HERE to download the Flyer