anaheim
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
These peppers overlap in cooking, but they give different results. An Anaheim pepper is usually long, fairly mild, and easy to roast or stuff. A poblano is also mild, but it is broader, darker, and often has a richer flavor. A jalapeno is smaller and noticeably hotter, so it changes the heat level of a dish more quickly. A bell pepper is the mildest of all and has no chili heat, so it adds sweetness rather than spice. In practice, you might stuff an Anaheim or a poblano, slice a jalapeno onto nachos, and use a bell pepper in a salad. If a recipe needs gentle heat without becoming too spicy, Anaheim is often the safest choice.
Etymology
The place name Anaheim was formed in the 1800s from Ana, taken from the nearby Santa Ana River, and -heim, a German word meaning "home". The pepper sense came later and was named after Anaheim, California, where the variety became strongly associated with commercial growing and sale.