The Chile Pepper Institute of New Mexico State University has made it official: the bhut jolokia, or "ghost pepper" from Assam state in India is the world's hottest chile pepper. The spiciness of a chile pepper is measured by its capsaicin content, expressed in Scoville units. For example, your average jalapeno measures in the range of 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville units.
The bhut jolokia tested at 1,001,304 Scoville units, roughly twice the heat of the previous champion, the Red Savina habanero.
6 comments:
Ouch.
Or, more likely: Aaah! Aaah! Aaaaaah!
Hmmn. Perhaps the new base for pepper spray?? Or do they manufacture the amount of capsicum in that anyway?
The article says that the Indian government has used these peppers in tear gas research
Last year a friend of mine grew habaneros. He devoted an entire saturday to pickling his bumper crop. The endeavor ended with an evening trip to the emergency room with first degree burns to his hands! So, as for bhut jolokia -- keep them far away from me!
Thanks for commenting, Cousin DeAnn!
I had my first habanero in a restaurant in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Took a lot of Red Stripe beer to put out the fire
Happy Friday, Cousin Reid. I've never had Red Stripe, but with the day I am having, I think a six-pack would make a wonderful lunch!
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