Physical Description
Spherical, slightly squashed or wrinkled
Fresh ripe scotch bonnets change from green to colours ranging from pumpkin orange to scarlet red.
Colors: green, yellow, orange, red, chocolate, white
Tasting Notes
Flavors: Spicy
Mouthfeel: Exceptionally hot!
Food complements: Dairy, Raisins, Pork, Rice
Beverage complements: Milk, Coconut milk
Substitutes: Habanero
Preparation and Use
Ripe peppers are prepared for cooking by cutting out the seeds inside the fruit which can be saved for cultivation or other culinary uses.
Cleaning: Wearing gloves, slice the pepper in half and remove stem and seeds. Discard seeds or pat dry and save for cultivating or for adding a bit of spice to a sauce or broth. (In most cases, the seeds contain a fraction of the total heat of the pepper.)
Conserving and Storing
they are quite perishable and will last only a few days. Wrap in plastic and store in the refrigerator. Store at 45°F.
Fresh hot peppers will last between 14-21 days. They should not be in well-ventilated areas. Peppers contain capsaicin, which can irritate the skin and eyes. Keep away from ethylene-producing fruits.
Social/Political
Scotch bonnets are mostly used in Grenadian, Trinidadian, Jamaican, Barbadian, Guyanese, Surinamese, Haitian and Caymanian cuisine and pepper sauces, though they often show up in other Caribbean recipes.
History: Found mainly in the Caribbean islands and also in Guyana and the Maldives Islands, it is named for its resemblance to a Tam o'shanter hat.