There are a lot of condiments in this world and while ketchup may be the most popular here in the US, salsa is king. And when it comes to making the best salsa, a few different kinds of peppers can make all the difference. Peppers have a wide range of flavors, colors, and levels of spiciness and you can tailor them to your own taste preferences.
Peppers are rated on the Scoville scale (SHU) which measures their spiciness based on their heat content. For reference, jalapenos rate about 2,500-8,000 SHU while serrano peppers measure about 3 times as spicy with 23,000 SHU. Bhut jolokia (ghost peppers) are in the Super Hot category and rank at over 1 Million SHU! They have a sweet and fruity flavor that makes them quite popular with those who can handle the burn.
Slightly milder options include Anaheim peppers. These large and crunchy peppers are similar in taste to a jalapeno with a milder flavor. They grow in around 70 days after transplant and are great for salsas that require a little less heat.
To get the most flavor out of your salsa, don't skip out on any of the classic ingredients - like onions and garlic! Adding them in will bring the entire recipe together. Plus, they also help counteract the spiciness of your chosen peppers. Another essential ingredient to add is acidity. Whether from citrus or oil, adding a bit of vinegar or acid to your salsa will brighten up the overall flavor and smooth out the texture.