Mantis-You can also try picking Numex Big Jim green, before it turns red. In New Mexico, the first harvesting and roasting occurs when the fruit is green-then later, we get red fruit and roast it. Most people say there is no difference in the taste, but some can appreciate a subtle difference. I cant tell the difference, but some can. Here is a link, if you want to read about the varities released by New Mexico State University:
http://cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/research/h...ture/RR719.pdf
With regard to the heat, its well known here that plants vary from no heat to medium-I have noticed this in my own garden. The link above says: "Pungency varied from plant to plant, with some plants producing mild pods and others producing hot pods."