Habanero: Small and lantern-shaped, habaneros range from light green to bright orange when ripe. They are among the hottest chiles,so make sure to handle them carefully. Use rubber gloves to avoid getting the oil on your skin. For recipe use, marinating them in vinegar and sugar softens their bite.

Recipe:
French West Indian Grilled Snapper with Caper Sauce

Scotch bonnet: This chile, shaped like a Chinese lantern, is one of the world's hottest--50 times hotter than a jalapeno. Behind all that heat is a complex flavor that's earthy, floral, adn apricotlike all at once. If you can't find the Scoth bonnet, you can substitute its Mexican cousin, the habenaro.

Recipes:
Jamaican Jerk Pork Tenderloin
Conch Salad