Christine wrote:

>> Try this: Put a whole habanero into your mouth. Let it sit there for five
>> minutes. You will observe *no* heat from it. The heat only comes out when
>> the cuticle is broken.
>
> That is not quite the same as applying heat to it, and cooking it. I
> would think cooking damages the cuticle and breaks it.

Sure, given enough heat and enough time. I just don't believe that the
fairly-brief simmer in the recipe is enough for that to happen.

Bob