Four Pepper Blend by Flat Iron Pepper Co

Four Pepper Blend by Flat Iron Pepper Company

I discovered this blend of hot pepper flakes a couple of years ago. Like many people, I kept a canister of red pepper flakes in my spice cabinet to put on pizza. My red pepper flakes still have a place in a lot of recipes, but I can pretty much guarantee that you will never go back to these after you try the Four Pepper Blend by Flat Iron Pepper Co. I certainly didn’t.

This blend derives its name from the four varieties of peppers it contains: habanero, jalapeno, arbol, and ghost. Don’t be alarmed by the presence of habanero and ghost if you just prefer a modicum of heat. This is a balanced heat that gradually builds up instead of hitting you right in the face – there is a marked difference between shaking a little bit over your food versus adding just a tiny bit more.

The arbol peppers add a smoky depth that you won’t find in many hot pepper products. It’s a big change from the one-dimensional cayenne red pepper flakes that you’ve been using. Consequently, it adds new dimensions to foods that you have always enjoyed. Four Pepper Blend is my go-to for pizza, but I also put it on sandwiches, pasta, and in my chicken or shrimp quesadillas.

These are pricey compared to generic red pepper flakes, but keep in mind you are getting a premium product. There is not salt or additives – just pepper flakes. Regular red pepper flakes often contain a large number of seeds in relation to the flakes. There are still seeds (which contain most of the capsicum that gives hot peppers their punch) in Four Pepper Blend, but there are far more flakes.

There is a lot of competition for a coveted spot in my spice cabinet, but Four Pepper Blend has earned a permanent place. Flat Iron Pepper Co has several other blends in its lineup that I look forward to trying as well.