Habanero-tan () is the unofficial mascot of Bà Âkun Habanero, the habanero pepper-flavored snacks produced by Tohato. Habanero-tan and her companions with names like "Jalapeño-san" are the personification of spices as cute young girls. They were created by several Japanese amateur artists, and of them, Takehiro "Shigatake" Shiga, the creator of the character Habanero-tan, drew a series of yonkoma manga featuring the lives of these girls. Shiga later became the graphics designer for the Vanillaware games Odin Sphere and GrimGrimoire.
Habanero-tan's popularity has led to various renditions (some of them risque) by other Japanese artists, and even appearances on the OVA Netrun-mon. There is also a dà Âjin game called Habanero-tan House which incorporates many of the things seen in Shigatake's comics. The game's creator, Ashinaga Oji-san, later worked with Shiga and Vanillaware to develop a similar game called Kumatanchi for the Nintendo DS.
A younger girl that's similar to Jalapeno-san. Created by Bomaan.
Habanero's friend who wears skimpy clothing. Created by Bomaan.
The mischievous ghost friend of Habanero-tan that can disappear and appear at will. Created by Shiga.
A character from the DS game Kumatanchi.