Thank you all. I am not convinced either way. But we know that Kate uses Chambers, and Chambers gives Jalapeno as an especially hot pepper, near enough to extremely hot. While the entry for Habanero does not comment on its hotness.
So I'll go for Jalapeno.
Thanks again.
I'm going for Habanero. The clue says "extremely hot" and a Jalapeno is certainly nowhere near extremely hot. I would describe them as very hot. A habanero is roughly the same level as a bell pepper.
Hi Aqua ... I have to admit that I entered Jalapeno without giving it another thought at the time, but have to agree that either answer may be the one that Kate is expecting!!
Oh dear, I had put in habanero without giving it much more thought. The niceties of very hot and hottest are now all before me! I guess we'll just have to wait and see next Saturday.
I've never won anything yet, despite having sent the crossword in several times. I don't remember being in a quandary about a choice of word before.