Hatch Or Pueblo? The Age-Old Question Resurfaces With Chile Taste Off
DENVER (CBS4) - The long-fought-over question is back: Who has the better chile? Colorado or New Mexico? The 2019 Chile War is now underway after governors from both states chimed in on Tuesday.
The debate started after Gov. Jared Polis shared an article from Pueblo Magazine on Saturday touting Colorado's chile while in the same breath calling New Mexico's inferior.
About time! Whole Foods Market will soon offer Pueblo Chile, widely acknowledged as the best chile in the world, in...
Posted by Jared Polis on Saturday, July 6, 2019
It didn't take much longer for the two states finding themselves in an agricultural "war." The post crossed the state line and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham quoted an article from the Santa Fe New Mexican - firing back at Polis. Things got heated to say the least.
"If Colorado wants to go chile to chile, no question that New Mexico can bring the heat - Hatch chile is, has always been and will always be the greatest in the world," she said.
Moments later, Polis responded with a wager... A chile taste-off in Trinidad.
If Pueblo chile were any good, it would have been on national shelves before now. If Colorado wants to go chile to chile, no question that New Mexico can bring the heat - Hatch chile is, has always been and will always be the greatest in the world. https://t.co/zBkkUPJPxL
— Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) July 10, 2019
Reaction has been widespread -- Coloradans, New Mexicans, Coloradans with New Mexico roots, New Mexicans with Coloradan roots... and all of the rest in between going at it.
"Which one would you pick? Not even a contest. Colorado gray chile or legit green chile from the Hatch Valley," said one person on Twitter.
"My mom's side of the family goes back generations in CO and my dad's side of the family goes back generations in NM. I am uniquely qualified to answer this question, and the answer is #PUEBLOCHILE all damn day!" Sen. Julie Gonzales said.
Hybrid group 505 in the 303 called out Polis and the use of New Mexico chile at professional sporting events.
Okay, Jared Polis. ???? SHOTS FIRED. We get supporting Colorado, but New Mexico chile is not inferior. Why do the Denver...
Posted by 505 in the 303 on Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Aaron Calkins owns Lulu's Farm in Brighton and The Chili Guys store off Federal Boulevard. He sells chile from both Hatch and Pueblo. He loves both, but says Colorado has the edge.
"When it comes to us we believe Colorado peppers roast much better and have much better flavor. And of course if you like it hot then Colorado is where it's at," he told CBS4.
Calkins also loves the fact that Colorado and New Mexico's governors are taking the debate center stage. He says the publicity is good for both sides.
"I think it's fantastic for the exposure on actual green chile and roasting green peppers. I think it's fantastic."
CBS4's Michael Abeyta chimed in, "If you're Mexican then you know Hatch is better."
One Colorado - an advocacy group for the LGBTQ community - went as far as creating a social media poll. So far, as of this writing, New Mexico is winning.