re: perfected getting that right heat and flavor balance that so many of us enjoy? Is there a good rule of thumb when trying to balance heat with sweetness? Of course I think I've done that :-) I suspect that all of us evil corporate types think we've got the right balance ;-) Sweeter means a longer delay in the onset of the heat. Didn't matter that you de-seeded unless you took most of the surrounding membrane out with them. The desired level of sweetness varies from region to region. Here, in the mid-west US, sweet is pretty sweet! And, the level of heat tolerated varies from person to person. -Jim C http://www.wildpepper.com