[CH] Personal Containers for Pepper Granules

Andy B (quark@erols.com)
Fri, 11 Dec 1998 19:35:12 -0500 

I often like to carry with me a personal supply of my favorate habanero
granules (small flakes, but courser than powder).  There has recently been a
bit of chat about portable containers for habanero powder.  Let me give a
brief summary & add my 59-cent solution:

Day-trips & weekends:

    There have been high-end solutions:             Devices made for the
purpose at  ~ $20.

    There have been medium-end solutions:       Nitro-glycrein pill
containers  (aren't these a bit small?)

Boy-scout/camping  match holders
                                                                       --
These can be under $10, and are water-proof

    Lower-end solutions:                                   Tupperware bowls
for pills   (Jim -- really ?)

    My low-end solution:                                   "Tic-Tac" box  --
mints removed.

    1)  The boxes I checked actually seal quite tight -- the flakes don't fall
out, but they're not hermetic.

    2)  Thier transparency allows quick determination of a dangerously low
supply.

    3)  It fits nicely in the bottom of the front pocket or even a small purse
(this is for you, Elena).
         (I wouldn't recommend the rear pocket.)

    4)  As I am able to get a supply of really-hot hab flakes (see Jim), the
size is quite adaquate for day trips or
         a even a short weekend --  unless my son Doug is with me, in which
case I need to go to at least the
         "office solution".

    5)  Even though the opening is somewhat large, one can, if necessary,
dispense carefully.  (If you must have
         additional dispensing protection,  cut a small a small, rectangular
portion from an old strainer and jam it
         inside the lid.  Re-secure the non-higned portion of the lid with
good tape.)

Office:
Although they're almost extinct (in my MD area), the old-fashoned, small-size
spice cans of the type made of "tin" having a plastic sprinkle top works
nicely for the office or a longer trip. They seal quite tight, and one is able
to dispense carefully ).  I often set it out for lunch to let people I lunch
with have a chance (I do mark the top in red with "HOT"  -- well, not
everyone's a chile-head.)   This size will last a while.

Andy Barnhart
quark@erols.com

By-the-way, does anyone know how to get the nice tilda above the "n" in
habanero with Netscape?