When it comes to dried chiles, most light-colored varieties are predominantly red, but with varying hues of brown, bright red, or burgundy.
Generally, such chiles offer bright flavors with notes that lean fruity, smoky, earthy, or nutty, depending on the variety
What's not constant is the level of heat: Tiny pequins are flavor-packed fiery peppers, while guajillos are generally sweet with acidic notes.
Popular chipotles are middle-of-the-pack, celebrated for the smoky notes that arise by way of their processing over fire.
Meanwhile, chiles de árbol provide nutty, earthy undertones without shying away from spice
As a rule of thumb, remember that the smaller the pepper, the higher the heat. So for a tasty all-around option, settle on a medium-size light-colored pepper