The opinion that ``recent chili peppers are not spicy'' is not due to habituation or arrogance, but it is actually not spicy anymore.

If you like spicy food, you've probably felt that chili pepper dishes these days are becoming less spicy. This opinion that ``recent chili peppers are not spicy'' does not mean that ``we are being strong even though they are spicy'', and the overseas media D Magazine reports that chili peppers that are really moderate in spiciness are becoming popular.

Here's Why Jalapeño Peppers Are Less Spicy Than Ever - D Magazine
https://www.dmagazine.com/food-drink/2023/05/why-jalapeno-peppers-less-spicy-blame-aggies/

There are many different types of chili peppers, but among them, ``jalapeno'' is used in many restaurants and is also relatively easy to obtain at supermarkets. Regarding dishes using this jalapeño, Brian Reinhardt, a reporter for D Magazine, said that he felt that jalapenos have become less spicy recently. Furthermore, when Mr. Reinhardt contacted multiple restaurant owners, it became clear that many people felt the same way as Mr. Reinhardt: that the spiciness of jalapenos had decreased.

According to Stephanie Walker , who studies chili peppers at New Mexico State University, changes in the production environment, such as changes in pesticides and equipment used for cultivation, may be influencing the spiciness of jalapenos. About. However, Mr. Walker points out that the spiciness due to these factors is slight, and the fundamental cause is 'breeding improvement of jalapenos'.

Jalapeno is a widely cultivated chili pepper, but conventional jalapenos have problems such as ``uneven shape'' and ``low resistance to viruses.'' Furthermore, it seems that there was a problem that jalapenos were ``too spicy'' for chili pepper processors. Meanwhile, a research team at Texas A&M University announced a variety called 'TAM II' in 2002. In addition to the characteristics of ``stable and large growth'' and ``high virus resistance'', TAM II has the characteristics of ``moderate spiciness''. It quickly became popular thanks to its positive reception.

As mentioned above, there are many varieties of jalapeños. However, Reinhardt's interviews revealed that most restaurant owners are unaware that there are multiple varieties of jalapeños. Most restaurants and supermarkets do not specify the variety when purchasing jalapenos, so they are more likely to purchase TAM II. For this reason, dishes using jalapenos served at restaurants and jalapenos sold at supermarkets are no longer spicy.

In addition, Mr. Walker recommends that chili pepper lovers who seek spiciness select spicy varieties such as ``Mitra'' and ``Aari'' when purchasing jalapenos.

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