Chipotle peppers are a dried, smoked version of jalapeño peppers which originated in Mexico. There are countless varieties of dried red peppers from Mexico, but as I stood in the aisle of a local store surveying a handful varieties, it was clear that chipotles were the smallest there but demanded the most attention. As I walked past I could not pinpoint where the rich smoky aroma was coming from until my nose led me to a container of peppers that were so dried and dark that they almost resembled prunes if it wasn’t for their slightly red tint. Immediately my mind started racing with how to apply this amazing pepper to various meats, especially as the grilling season approaches.

Chipotle peppers in a supermarket, will most likely be in open bins below other produce.