Most Red Pepper Flakes are from the species Capsicum annuum, which is a member of the Solanaceae family (also known as the night shade family). These chiles are about a 3 to 4 on a heat scale of 1 to 10. Red pepper flakes are not made of one type of chile, but from various combinations of ancho, bell, cayenne and more. Crushed red pepper flakes are used in pickling, chowders, gumbos, spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce and sausage. They are also great in cream and cheese sauces, omelets and marinades. Use about a ½ tsp. to equal the power of one small dried chile.