On Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:58:11 -0500, Sqwertz >
wrote:

>On Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:30:30 -0500, zxcvbob wrote:
>
>> Most store-bought jalapeños are mild. Not just slightly hot, but mild
>> like a bell pepper. (I seek out the ones with cracks in the skins, they
>> often have a little heat.) So I started buying serranos, but they are
>> not really hot either now. Yesterday I bought a handful of little Thai
>> peppers thinking at least they would be hot. Well, some of them are,
>> barely.
>>
>> This is starting to **** me off.
>
>I think you have a problem with your hot-receptors. As far as I
>know there is no mild serrano or thai bird - and no drastic
>changes in growing conditions.
>
>I have not noticed any heat reduction in either of those peppers
>and I use each of them almost weekly. I've heard this from
>several people here (not the first for you), but I just think
>you're taste buds are wearing out.
>
>For the record, I have probably decreased my hot pepper/sauce
>consumption slightly, while others usually increase it to maintain
>the same level of heat they're used to.
>
>Have you tried giving one of those hot peppers to someone who
>doesn't eat hot stuff and have them try it? That should be your
>next step.
>
>-sw

I've grown hot peppers for many years and they do vary in heat
intensity with every crop but I've never had any that are so mild that
I'd complain, if anything I've had years when jalapenos were too hot.
And peppers have a habit of cross pollinating... last year all my mild
frying peppers were as hot as the hottest jalapenos... I won't be
planting different peppers near each other anymore.