You may have come across different types of chilies. Have you ever heard about chile de arbol and Thai chili? In this blog, we’ll discuss the difference between chile de arbol and Thai chili. Let’s start.
Chile De Arbol is packed with a high level of heat. It’s around 2-3 inches long and delivers 15,000-30,000 Scoville Heat Units, making it one of the hottest chiles, though it’s on the lower end of the scale.
De arbol chile loosely translates as chiles of the wood, and this name was given because of the pepper’s woody, dark cap and stem, and not because they grow on trees. Chile de arbol grows on bushy plants, similar to other chiles.
Because of the shape of chile de arbol, it is also called pico de Pajaro, or cola de rata, rat tail. Irrespective of whether they are fresh or dried, they are called the same name. These chiles originated in Jalisco, one of the states situated along Mexico’s western coast. Chile de arbol is also grown for commercial purposes in Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, and Nayarit to accommodate demand.
Thai chili peppers are also called bird’s eye chili peppers. They are small in size and come in a wide range of colors from green to red. Thai chillies are considered one of the hottest peppers in the world. Their heat level ranges from 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville Units. In comparison with Jalapeno peppers, which have a heat level ranging from 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville units. Apart from their heat level, Thai chili peppers are in demand because of their flavors, as they have a fruity and slightly sweet taste.
Here’s the difference between chile de arbol and Thai chili:
Feature |
Chile de Árbol |
Thai Chili |
| Origin | Mexico | Thailand and Southeast Asia |
| Typical Size | The size of chile de arbol is 5–8 cm (2–3 inches) long. | Thai chili is 2–5 cm (0.8–2 in) long. |
| Color | Chile de arbol changes its color when dried and turns a bright red. | When Thai chili is ripe, it might be green, red, or orange. |
| Heat Level (Scoville) | 15,000–30,000 SHU | 50,000–100,000 SHU |
| Relative Heat | It can be considered hot. | It is considered very hot (about 2–4× hotter than chile de árbol) |
| Flavor | It features a smoky, nutty, and slightly earthy flavor. | It features a sharp, fruity, and grassy flavor. |
| Common Form | You can find chile de arbol in dried or powdered form. | It is usually fresh, but also dried. |
| Cuisine | You can make use of chil de arbol in Mexican salsas, soups, and hot sauces. | You can use Thai chili to make stir-fries, Thai curries, salads, and sauces. |
| Best Uses | It is ideal to be used in Salsa roja, chili oil, and enchilada sauces | Curry pastes, spicy sauces, stir-fries |
| Substitution Ratio | 1 Thai chili ≈ 2–3 chile de árbol peppers (for similar heat) | 2–3 chile de árbol peppers ≈ 1 Thai chili |
| Appearance | Thin, narrow, pointed dried pod | Small, short, slender fresh pepper |
| Seed Content | Moderate | High relative to size |
The short answer to this question is no. Chile de arbol and Thai chili are not the same. Chile de arbol is a Mexican pepper that you can use dried. It has sharp heat, usually measured around 15,000 – 30,000 Scoville Heat Units.
On the other hand, Thai chili is often known as bird’s eye chili. It is a Southeast Asian pepper and is commonly used fresh. It has a fruitier and brighter flavor, and is hotter than chile de arbol, ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 SHU. If you are cooking and only want to add heat, they can substitute for each other. The taste of dishes can vary but since Thai chiles are much hotter and have a different flavor profile. For Mexican salsas and sauces, chile de arbol may be a better choice. If you are going to be making Thai curries, salads, and stir-fries you can go for Thai chiles.
Chile de arbol and chile morita are Mexican chiles, but chile de arbol is much hotter than chile morita.
This figure clearly shows that chile de arbol is 3-10 times hotter than a morita chile, but it depends on the specific peppers.
Chile de arbol is sold under various other names, such as:
According to the ranking of Scoville Heat Units (SHU), here’s the list of the top 3 hottest chiles in the world:
Now, you are aware of the difference between Thai chili and chile de arbol. If you are looking to buy chile de arbol at wholesale price, you can get in touch with Terramar Essentials.
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