Feature by Alekhya Chavan
People from around the globe have adored spicy food for centuries.
Ancient civilizations like the Mayans and the Aztecs were fiery (spicy/flaming) food fans who couldn’t get enough of the heat in their dishes.
The Mayans and Aztecs were ancient civilizations based in Mesoamerica, which is a region in the southern part of North America, including present-day Mexico and parts of Central America.
And that legacy has been carried on!
Our love for spice has set in motion the search for the spiciest pepper. But, how do we know which pepper is the spiciest?
Let’s understand it all!
Are you ready for a sizzling adventure into the incredible land of super-hot peppers!?
Let’s dive into the Scoville Heat Scale and meet these spicy contestants!
What’s the Scoville Heat Scale?
The Scoville Heat Scale is like our spicy-o-meter. It helps us figure out just how hot peppers are. It’s all about capsaicin, the chemical that makes peppers spicy. The higher the SHU (Scoville Heat Units), the hotter the pepper. For example, a mild jalapeno scores around 2,500 SHU.
Peppers and What Makes Them Special
1. Scotch Bonnet Pepper – 350,000 SHU
It’s spicy but manageable, perfect for Caribbean dishes.The Scotch Bonnet pepper is not just hot; it’s also shaped like a little hat, which is how it got its name. It’s a favorite in Caribbean cuisine, adding a burst of tropical flavor to jerk chicken and spicy sauces.
Red Savina Pepper – 350,000-577,000 SHU
It ruled as the spiciest pepper for quite a while and can still bring the heat.
The Red Savina pepper was the superstar of the pepper world in the 1990s. It’s like the rockstar of spicy peppers, and it’s not ready to retire from the spicy stage just yet!
Bhut Jolokia ‘Ghost’ Pepper – 1,001,340 SHU
It’s twice as hot as the Red Savina.
The Ghost Pepper was a record-holder for a long time. It’s so fiery that people in India used to smear (grease/coat) it on fences to keep elephants away – that’s some serious spice power!
Infinity Chilli Pepper – 1,176,182 SHU
It was created in the UK, and it stars in the world’s spiciest curry!
The Infinity Chilli was made in a British kitchen by accident. It’s the star of the “Infinity Chilli Curry,” and just a tiny piece can make a whole pot of curry super-hot!
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Pepper – 1,207,764 SHU
This one’s famous for giving you a long-lasting mouth burn, a true spicy champ.
The Trinidad Moruga Scorpion pepper comes from the Caribbean and gets its name from the scorpion-like tail at the pepper’s end. It’s like a fiery scorpion sting in your mouth!
Naga Viper – 1,382,118 SHU
It held the title of the world’s spiciest pepper in 2011.
The Naga Viper is like a spicy ninja. It’s a mix of three super-hot peppers and was once the hottest pepper in the world. It’s not to be taken lightly!
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper – 1,463,700 SHU
It’s the second-hottest in the world, and it uses a unique ‘worm juice’ fertilizer secret.
The Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper is known for its scorpion-like tail and its secret to spiciness – worm juice fertilizer. It’s like a spicy plant superhero!
“Worm juice” fertilizer refers to a type of organic fertilizer made from the liquid runoff of composting worms (vermicomposting). It’s rich in nutrients and beneficial for plant growth. The Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper is noted for its unique use of this fertilizer, which some believe contributes to its extreme spiciness.
Carolina Reaper Pepper – 1,641,183 SHU
According to Guinness World Records, it’s officially the spiciest pepper on Earth. So intense that you need gloves to touch it!
The Carolina Reaper holds the crown for spiciness, and it looks like a fiery red dragon’s head. It’s so hot that it’s used in hot sauce challenges, and you need to be very brave (and maybe a bit crazy) to eat one!
Isn’t it amazing how these tiny peppers can pack such a punch? Whether you’re a fan of mild or wild, the world of super-hot peppers is a spicy playground.