Under the old technique for measuring the heat of various peppers, cayenne peppers are a relatively mild 2,500 to 25,000 units while the tabascos rate around 50,000 heat units and habaneros go up to 300,000! Wow! Be very careful when handling these things...don't rub that itchy eye while handling hot peppers.

The common name is derived from the state of Tabasco in Mexico.