Serrano

We like to think of serrano peppers as the hardcore chili-head’s version of the jalapeño. While both look and taste pretty similar, there is one key difference: serranos are quite a bit hotter (5-10 times hotter than their famous cousins, to be exact). Despite their heat, serranos are praised for being one of the more flavor-filled hot peppers available, so your taste buds get a fair share of flavor alongside the fire. They are commonly used in fresh salsas, though we think they’re also pretty killer alongside fruity flavors like pineapple, peach, and lime in a spicy-sweet hot sauce.

Are Serrano Peppers Hot?

Serrano peppers definitely pack a punch in the heat-department. They typically range 10,000 - 23,000 SHU on the Scoville Scale, which is great for more ambitious hot-sauce lovers. Many serrano-spiced sauces are categorized in the “Hot” category, which is right in the middle of the spicy scale.