Thai chili peppers, also known as bird’s eye chilis, are little flavor bombs that bring a serious kick of heat to any dish. These peppers are a staple in Southeast Asian cooking and add a touch of spice to everything from curries to stir-fries.
But what happens when you can’t find Thai chilis at your local grocery store? Or maybe you love the flavor but want to dial down the heat a bit?
That’s where this guide comes in. We’ll explore some excellent substitutes for Thai peppers, focusing on both heat and flavor. To help you compare different peppers, we’ll also be referencing the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) scale, which measures how hot a pepper is.