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Beginners Guide => Trainee Chefs / Beginners Questions => Topic started by: Vinda looo on January 24, 2007, 10:23 AM

Title: Which brands of chilli powder should I use?
Post by: Vinda looo on January 24, 2007, 10:23 AM

What are your best tried and trusted brands of chilli powder. I have now tried quite a few and it seems that there is a vast difference in some of them eg, colour, smell, taste and even strength. I think this is a very important part of the recipe to get right as the taste of a final dish can be so different. I ran out of chilli powder the other day so I went to Asda to get some, when I made up my curry with it I couldnt beleive how different the taste and colour was, for the worst I might add. Dont use Asda's it will ruin your meal.

Title: Re: Brands of chilli powder
Post by: Chilli Prawn on January 24, 2007, 10:47 AM

You are so right VL.  But I dont think sticking with one particular supplier helps either, except maybe for confidence in quality.  The problem is that the stuff is traded like any other commodity and is generally price driven.  Therefore a spice merchant may source his spice (especially chillies) from many parts of the continent/globe and then blend them to achieve what his standard is (hopefully).  That is why you can go to an Asian grocer and sometimes see different shades of  (any) spice even though they are from the same supplier.  This is more evident now that the Red Sudan colouring scam has been stopped.  It is an interesting point though:  Do you think that these merchants test for the Scoville units on their batches of chillis?  Nah, they probably eat a spoonful and guage its quality and heat the following morning  :-[ ::) :o ;D

CP

Title: Re: Brands of chilli powder
Post by: Curry King on January 24, 2007, 12:57 PM

Hi Vind aloo,

I always try and get "Rajah Extra Hot Chilli Powder",  funnily enough I buy this from Asda as it's cheaper than even the local asian market! 

cK

Title: Re: Brands of chilli powder
Post by: King Prawn on January 24, 2007, 02:29 PM

My favourite BIR uses Rajah, he says that it is the best quality. But I do have a packet of thier chilli powder and it's hotter than their 'extra hot' one  :-\

Asda prices on the packets of spice are much cheaper than the indian shops and even the cash and carry.

KP(V)

Title: Re: Brands of chilli powder
Post by: spicysarsy on January 24, 2007, 04:29 PM

 ;) ;) Yep, It's Rajah everytime for me too Vinda looo.

Title: Re: Brands of chilli powder
Post by: curryqueen on January 24, 2007, 07:13 PM

Yes I use Rajah Extra Hot Chilli powder  accompanied with scotch bonnet chillies too and also get it from my local Asda.  They do lots of powdered spices but not so many whole spices in my local one.   CQ

Title: Re: Brands of chilli powder
Post by: mike travis on January 24, 2007, 08:53 PM

Yes me too Rajah from Asda.......... ;D

Title: Re: Brands of chilli powder
Post by: King Prawn on January 24, 2007, 09:00 PM

Quote from: curryqueen on January 24, 2007, 07:13 PM

..with scotch bonnet chillies too 

Have you tried Naga Morich yet? They are much hotter and have a lovely chilli/lemony flavour that doesn't dominate a dish (as SB;s can in my experience)

But then again, maybe you like the flavour of them ;)

KP(V)

Title: Re: Brands of chilli powder
Post by: Chilli Prawn on January 25, 2007, 10:45 AM

Anyone know a reliable brand for mild chilli powder please.  I find Natco and TRS a bit unrelieble and have blown the guts out of some curries as a reult.

Thanks
CP

Title: Re: Brands of chilli powder
Post by: wardy11 on February 27, 2007, 02:35 PM

Hi has anyone tried spices from Julian Graves. I find them very good. The chilli powder is
very hot tho!!

Title: Re: Brands of chilli powder
Post by: laynebritton on February 27, 2007, 04:11 PM

Sorry folks TRS for me everytime full stop  8)
Layne

Title: Re: Brands of chilli powder
Post by: parker21 on February 28, 2007, 04:59 AM

hi marc
i have tried the julian graves range and found them very good they should be they are endorsed by that blonde female tv chef sometimes appears on redy stedy coook ;) so they should be of quite good quality and with their constant sale of 1/2 price for everything quite cheap 67p for 150 grams of chilli powder cheaper than asda who do rajah spices for about 48p per 100g

regards
gary

Title: Re: Brands of chilli powder
Post by: DARTHPHALL on March 10, 2007, 10:38 PM

Layne says TRS...DARTHPHALL says TRS..So TRS it is lol...Good cheep Spices that do the job very well thankyou missus.
Trs is a very good quality Spice grinder (are we allowed to say Grind..lol) ;D