Those are medium hot. You want some more on the milder side. What about Hungarian hot wax or good old Jalapenos?

Try Poblano or Rocotillo. I also like Italian peppers like Pepperoncini that are mostly sweet and slightly spicy.

Hmmm, I'm even pansier than I thought then, chillilover. lol. I guess I was using salsa as a measure - ie store-bought mild salsas are too mild, medium salsa is more my style. These peppers were too hot for me raw. Thank you and thanks to sprouts_honor too for your suggestions, I will research those peps and see which ones might work best here.

To Jim who emailed asking if I had just eaten them plain... I did (without the seeds). I will do as you suggested, though... will find some recipes to cook these with, I know I have seen recipe threads here and will try some.

"To Jim who emailed..."

E-mailed? I wonder how I did that. I thought I was just posting. Never had that happen before. Wierd.

Anyway, I was just commenting that chiles mellow out a lot when cooked with other ingredients. And you can control the pungency according to how many you put in the recipe. They can have quite a bite to them when munched on raw at full strength.

Jim

I don't care to eat the very hot ones either. For everyday use I prefer Jalapeno and Serrano. Some others that have mild or moderate heat and nice flavor:

Chimayo
Cochiti
Jaloro
Cosa Arrugada de Viejo
Inca Red Drop
Tunesian Bak Louti
Aji Amarillo
Kalocsai V-2
Peri Peri--C. baccatum version
Szegedi 80
Trottolino Amoroso

Jim, I've been off GW for most of the summer... guess its funky magic post gremlins are still at it... lol. Thanks though. "Bite"... hehe ... that's putting it mildly. I should have known better when I licked the knife after cutting them to clean out the seeds and *that* burned ... ;]

John, thanks for the list above, will look into those as well. :]

"It would be a bonus if the foliage or the pods are *interesting*, but not absolutely necessary."

You might want to try the Fish Pepper and/or the Pretty Purple Pepper. Check out these links for descriptions.

Fish Pepper description

Pretty Purple Pepper description

I've grown both in the past and was pleased with visual appeal, productivity and taste. And, they aren't "blow-yer-head-off" hot. I will definately grow both again.

Another one that I like is Rain Forest. It has moderate heat and a nice fruity flavor. My wife can't tolerate the heat either, but can take the Rain Forest.
John A

John A

Can you tell me more about yours? I have grown two versions--a C. annuum and a C.baccatum and both were very hot. Sounds like you have another version.

If you choose jalapenos as a milder pepper, make sure they're not Biker Billy's. Mine had a ferocious heat kick to them. Perfect for me as regular jals are too mild.

I like bishop's crown peppers for their cool shape and mild heat. Also great for stuffing.
Most jalapenos you'll grow from seed will be hotter than grocery store varieties so be prepared for that.
For mild flavorful Mex type chiles try Anaheims, Cachucas, poblanos, mulatos, casabel, guajillo

John, When a say my Rain Forests have "moderate" heat, that means they are not as hot as most Habenero varieties. They are also not as hot as Biker Billys or Paper Lanterns. I got my original seed from Beth at Peppermania. I'm pretty sure they are C.baccatum.
John A

Thanks for the further suggestions, rdback and potawie - will look into those as well. yfchoice, thanks for the heads up on Biker Billy's, I think I'll pass on that for now ;-)

One lemon drop pepper finally riped and it was pretty good - not as hot as FP and SF, so it's a keeper. Will also try Chimayo and John's Rainforest, and see if I find a few other spicy-but-not-painfully-so/munchable-right-off-the-plant peppers in the suggestions y'all have offered.

Thanks again!
Terri :]

For medium heat I like Bolivian Rainbow Chile Pepper. I grow them in containers. They have medium heat and are pretty plants and can be overwintered quite easy.

Dean

For a mild/medium hot variety I would suggest Pasilla Bajio (very mild) or just the ordinary Pasilla (Mild to medium hot) It has got so much flavour and sweetness, especially when dried.

I can also highly recommend NuMex Suave Orange which is an aromatic Habanero type with virtually no heat, flavour is so good, though.

Another very good and beautiful med-hot is the hungarian black, IMHO. If you're looking for something rather unique in the way of foliage and flower color, that's the way to go. Very nice green and purple foliage, lavender-coloured flowers, and purple-black peppers that turn to a pale green striped then lovely shade of red. they're about as hot as jalapenos, but IMO they're a little more sweet.

Mike

deanriowa, that's a beautiful plant, will have to do that one for the looks alone. :]

Donnie_Denmark, I'm adding Pasilla Bajio to my list.

green_grocer, hungarian black is also going on my wish list.

Thank you all! :]