People are only just learning what Chipotle is actually made from

You might recognize the iconic pepper symbol that's part of the Chipotle restaurant logo , but have you ever wondered what a Chipotle pepper actually is and how it's produced ?

Social media users are scratching their heads over this spicy conundrum , with some heading to platforms like Reddit for a deep dive into the creation and history of the pepper.

On the Reddit forum titled "Today I learned," a hive of curious minds gathered to chat about the Chipotle pepper. One clued-up user shared: "[Today I learned] a Chipotle pepper is just a smoked jalapeno. Chipotle means 'smoked pepper' in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs."

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Others pitched in with bits and bobs of trivia about the enigmatic pepper.

A comment pointed out that for a jalapeno to become a Chipotle pepper, it "has to be a ripe jalapeno, not an in-season jalapeno." This, they explained, is why the peppers are red.

Known for their distinctive taste, Chipotle peppers are essentially dried smoked jalapeno peppers that blend sweet, bitter, and smoky flavors. They pack a medium punch of heat and deliver a smoky-sweet sensation.

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There's a variety of Chipotle peppers to be found, but in the States, the Chipotle Morita is probably the one you'll bump into most often.

The tradition of smoking and drying chile peppers goes way back to the Aztec era, who were the big shots around the region now known as Mexico City. Jalapenos were plentiful there, particularly near the town of Xalapa.

The peppers thrived so much in this region that they were named after Xalapa; jalapeno translates as "the thing from Xalapa."

To protect against potential poor future harvests, people began preserving these peppers. While other peppers could be left out in the sun to dry, the thick and fleshy walls of the jalapeno didn't dry thoroughly in the sun, leaving them prone to rot due to retained moisture.

However, smoking the chiles ensured they dried thoroughly without cooking them, while also adding a unique flavor. This process led to the creation of Chipotle.

The Aztecs referred to them as chilpoctli. Chil- translates to "chile pepper", and '-poctli' means "smoked."

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