Jalapeños Are Bland Now and Spice Fans Are Fired Up

Jalapeños Are Bland Now and Spice Fans Are Fired Up

Jalapeños are actually milder than they used to be. And it's the trickery of the food industry according to D Magazine.

Well, it turns out, farmers have been tweaking them on purpose for about four decades now. Why? Blame it on the food industry's quest for consistency.

Back in the day, your grandparents' jalapeños packed a serious punch. But fast forward to now, and you might find yourself munching on milder versions. Around 40 years ago, farmers decided to give jalapeños a makeover. They started growing them bigger and toning down the heat.

Nowadays, most of these peppers end up in your favorite pre-made salsas or flavored chips. And guess what? Big food companies prefer them weak and sad. Why? Because it's easier to keep the spice level consistent. No more surprise heat waves ruining your snacking experience!

They've taken the muscle out of hot peppers.

Imagine the shock when folks online stumbled upon this spicy revelation. Yup, someone dropped the bomb (literally, there's an F-bomb involved) on X. They shared the D Magazine story from last year, blowing everyone's minds about the jalapeño conspiracy.

But fear not,  heat-seekers. Hotter jalapeños haven't gone extinct. You might just have to venture to smaller farms to find them.

The mild ones you get at the grocery store are"TAM 2" peppers. They're the brainchild of a team at Texas A&M, and they're the mild pepprs ruling the grocery store shelves.

And hey, if you're craving that fiery kick, there's always a solution. Food companies have a trick up their sleeves—they add extracts, the same stuff found in pepper spray.

Talk about turning up the heat. (Also, that seems really unhealthy).

That's the spicy truth about jalapeños—less fire, more flavor, and a whole lot of food industry insider secrets.

Cinco de Mayo falls on a Friday in 2023. So what are the most popular Mexican beers and tequilas in Massachusetts?

Before we dive into the drinks, a quick word about Cinco de Mayo. The holiday, by definition, is celebrated in honor of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. It is not, as many believe it to be, Mexico's version of Independence Day. That's September 16th, the most important national holiday in Mexico. Believe it or not, Cinco de Mayo is much more popular and celebrated more widely in the United States than it is in Mexico.

Seeing as that's the case, the holiday has become more of a celebration of Mexican-American culture than anything else. And that's a beautiful thing. I had the privilege of living in Albuquerque, New Mexico for close to three years and the way the cultures of Mexico, New Mexico, and the various Native American cultures of that region blend together is a beautiful thing to behold. I love Mexican culture, I especially love Mexican food, and I'll certainly tip back a Mexican beer or sip a shot of Mexican tequila.

The crew at BetMassachusetts.com used Google Trends to analyze the top five highest-selling Mexican beer and Mexican tequila brands across the United States. What they ended up with was data showing which brands received the most interest over the last 12 months, state-by-state. I've taken their data and have shared with you the Top 5 Mexican beer choices and the Top 5 Mexican tequila choices here in the Commonwealth. Take a look and see if your favorites made the Top 5. Or, use the lists to inspire your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Just please, as always, drink responsibly. And tip your bartender.

Fun fact: they're no longer the No. 1 imported beer in America...

...because Modelo is now the No. 1 imported beer in America!

Shouts to my buddy Graz, as this is his preferred Mexican brewnani.

And shouts to my boy Punk Rock Steve, who would smash lime wedge right into the mouth of the can before quaffing these at Tacos El Charro in J.P.

I have a Pacifico long board. My kid rides it all the time.

No surprise that Patron tops the list.

If it's good enough for Steely Dan to work into a song, it's good enough for me.

This one's my favorite. The blanco, in particular.

Remember a few years back when Hornitos was suddenly EVERYWHERE?

Hey, Ray Liotta was their pitchman!