Changes

[[Image:Chilesale.jpg |right|thumb|250px| Freshly harvested chiles being sold by bulk]]

[[Image:Chilesale.jpg |right|thumb|250px| Freshly harvested chiles being sold by bulk]]

[[Image:Chileroast.jpg |right|thumb|250px| These large roasters dot the New Mexican landscape in the fall where freshly purchased Chile is roasted by the millions of pounds]]

[[Image:Chileroast.jpg |right|thumb|250px| These large roasters dot the New Mexican landscape in the fall where freshly purchased Chile is roasted by the millions of pounds]]

'''Chile''' is the name applied to a [[species]] of Capsicum peppers grown in the [[Rio Grande valley]] in [[New Mexico]]. Chile is in the same [[family]] as the [[jalapeño]] but is a distinct and unique species with a distinct and unique taste. It is used ubiquitously in New Mexican cuisine as a spice and flavoring agent. It ranges from very mild to extremely hot. It is often joked by locals that the food is just an excuse for the chile. It comes in two varieties the unripe form of the plant called green chile and the ripened form of the plant called red Chile. If both green chile and red chile are used it is referred to as Christmas (a reference to the color combination).

'''Chile''' is the name applied to a [[species]] of Capsicum peppers grown in the [[Rio Grande valley]] in [[New Mexico]]. Chile is in the same [[family]] as the [[jalapeño]] but is a distinct and unique species with a distinct and unique taste. It is used ubiquitously in New Mexican cuisine as a spice and [[flavor]]ing agent. It ranges from very mild to extremely hot. It is often joked by locals that the food is just an excuse for the chile. It comes in two varieties the unripe form of the plant called green chile and the ripened form of the plant called red Chile. If both green chile and red chile are used it is referred to as Christmas (a reference to the color combination).

The skin of the chile is tough and irritating so is removed before consumption. It is also almost never consumed raw. Traditionally the chile is flame roasted and most commercial producers will flame roast it before freezing and packaging. The plant is harvested in October and is sold by the pound across the state from both road side stands and major commercial venues like [[Walmart]]. Chile roasters set up giant roasters outside of shops where consumers can have the chile roasted, usually free of charge. These roasting stations pop up all over the place during October so the smell of roasting chile is closely associated with fall in the state.

The skin of the chile is tough and irritating so is removed before consumption. It is also almost never consumed raw. Traditionally the chile is flame roasted and most commercial producers will flame roast it before freezing and packaging. The plant is harvested in October and is sold by the pound across the state from both road side stands and major commercial venues like [[Walmart]]. Chile roasters set up giant roasters outside of shops where consumers can have the chile roasted, usually free of charge. These roasting stations pop up all over the place during October so the smell of roasting chile is closely associated with fall in the state.