New Mexico Hatch Green Chiles

Fun Facts

1) Hatch Chiles are versatile and can add flavor to just about any meal.

With mild-to-hot heat levels, fresh, authentic Hatch Chiles can become an essential item for people who want to add loads of flavor to any meal or snack; they can instantly transform food that is bland and boring into something more fun, flavorful, and exciting. Hatch Chiles have unlimited potential for creative cooks in the kitchen, allowing them to add great flavor to breads, muffins, breakfast burritos, chicken, beef, pork, sausage, meatloaf, pot pies, enchiladas, salsas..even sushi!

2) Hatch Chiles are also budget friendly.

You can also buy them in bulk and freeze them. Hatch Chiles can be purchased in bulk, giving frugal cooks the opportunity to stock up on them in season, and freeze what they do not immediately need so they can bring fun and flavor to their meals year-round.

3) Hatch Chiles have a lot of health benefits. Aside from being tasty:

• One medium Hatch Chile has the Vitamin C of six oranges.
• Hatch Chiles are also rich in Vitamins A, B and E, and are a good source of iron and

potassium.

• Hatch Chiles do not contain fat or cholesterol and help the body’s absorption of

cholesterol while remaining low in calories.

• Hatch Chiles contain high amounts of the antioxidant beta-carotene, which supports the cardiovascular system, as well as helps to maintain the health of the skin, eyes, and immune system.
• Hatch Chiles can increase your metabolism because they contain capsaicin, which is

what gives the green chiles their “hot” taste. When you eat this hot food, the body reacts

by raising the thermogenic process, which increases your metabolic rate.

• The hotness of Hatch Chiles causes the release of endorphins, the neurotransmitters in

the body that reduce pain and induce euphoria. So, while there is a certain degree of hotness

in a dish with these green chiles, it also makes the taste more pleasing and enjoyable.

• Some teas and lozenges are made with chile peppers to treat sore throats.

4) Did You Know That…

• Authentic Hatch Chiles are only available from August to September.
• Hatch Chiles come from the Hatch Valley in southern New Mexico. These are the only authentic Hatch Chiles in the world.
• More chile peppers are grown in New Mexico than any other state in the United States.
• During Hatch season, Food City, Bashas’ and AJ’s Fine Foods customers purchase nearly one million pounds of Hatch Chiles!
• Like tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants, chile peppers are members of the nightshade family.
• Although they are commonly considered vegetables, peppers are botanically defined as fruit.
• Each plant can produce as many as 20 pods, or chiles.
• The Hatch Chile flavor is a uniquely peppery with hint of citrus and smokiness; it is said to be the result of the unique soil in the region where Hatch Chiles are grown.
• The heat, or spice, of a Hatch Chile can vary greatly, from the milder range of a poblano pepper to the fire of a serrano.