Planning to Make This! How to Pick Chiles?

For sure buy dried chiles from a store that sells a LOT of them. Fast turnover of inventory will result in fresher product; also a store clientele that buys lots of dried peppers will be an endorsement that the peppers are high quality.

For me, this means buying dried chiles at the Mexican grocery store down the street.

Yes! Dried chilis are fresher (seems counter intuitive) when they still have a bit of a flexible / leathery texture. If they’re so dry they just crumble then they’re much older and likely not as flavorful. If you’re not in an area where the grocery store has them out in open bins then I’d look for good sealed packaging and feel them through it.