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IGT 7

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peppers. In fact, Second Harvest will be providing favorite

nurseries around Mount Pleasant with pepper plants.

“For many of the hot pepper types, this is our first year

offering them,” said Jeff Boss, who works in the nursery at

Royall Ace Hardware in Mount Pleasant and mentioned

cayenne, habanero, shito, ghost and a few others as mem-

bers of their pepper parade.

“There’s quite a following for these peppers,” he con-

tinued. “It’ll be interesting to see who follows through and

eats them. I’m not sure what they’re expecting!”

Because peppers differ in spiciness, Glenda Bradley at

Abide-A-While Garden Center in Mount Pleasant keeps a

chart to share with her customers so they will know what

the “burn factor” will be when picking out pepper seeds or a

plant. She noted that two of the most popular (and mega-

hot) varieties, the ghost pepper and the Carolina reaper,

were not in existence a decade ago, and that the love of these

insanely hot varieties is not likely to wan soon.

“People are cross breeding hot peppers to make them

as hot as possible, and I think it’s honestly for bragging

rights,” she chuckled. “They say that when you eat them,

endorphins are released, and it’s some sort of thrill.”

Those seeking their thrill from the Carolina reaper,

however, will have to look a bit harder – none of the local

nurseries said they’d stock them, and even Emme referred

to the locally-bred beast as “a liability.”

“They want the Carolina reaper, but I’m not offering

it,” she stated. “Even with the ghost peppers, if you come

in and buy a plant, I’ll give you a stern talk about keeping

those plants out of reach of pets and children. If you touch

them and touch your eye, you’re going to the ER.”

Scared yet? If you’re a pepper novice, why not take

Glenda’s suggestion and try out some less powerful – but

just as tasty – peppers? One of her personal favorites is the

fish pepper, an African-American heirloom from the 1800s

that cooks would use to liven up fish sauce.

“It doesn’t change the color of the sauce,” she explained,

“even though the peppers are red at peak maturity. For

years, these peppers were a secret in the Chesapeake Bay

area, and now they’re making a comeback.”

And while pepper shoppers can start scouring the local

nurseries in the spring, it’s best to grow them in the heat of

summer – the hotter the weather, the hotter the pepper, ac-

cording to Glenda, who also mentioned that it’s mostly men

and boys who are anxious to grow the hottest breed possible.

“It’s all about these hot peppers for the men; the ladies

come in and ask on behalf of their husbands and boy-

friends,” she said.

“It’s kind of like beer,” Emme mused. “People who

grow up around these peppers come to understand them,

respect them and love them.”

Abide-A-While Garden Center

1460 N. Hwy 17, Mount Pleasant

Phone: 843-884-9738

Royall Ace Hardware

883 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Mount Pleasant

Phone: 843-884-2551

Hidden Ponds Nursery

4863 N. Hwy 17, Awendaw

Phone: 843-345-0019

Sweetgrass Ace Hardware

3008 N. Hwy 17, Mount Pleasant

Phone: 843-884-0064

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