The scale is named after its creator american pharmacist wilbur scoville whose 1912 method is known as the scoville organoleptic test. The scoville scale is a measurement of the pungency spiciness or heat of chili peppers as recorded in scoville heat units shu based on the concentration of capsaicinoids among which capsaicin is the predominant component. We are now working to bring the most complete shu scale to our fellow pepper heads around the world.
For years we have been in search of the hottest peppers sauces and extracts on the planet. Welcome to the scoville scale the defining list of what s hot and what s not on the web. With an average value of 1 5 to 2 2 million scoville heat units the carolina reaper surpassed its predecessor trinidad moruga scorpion butch t.
The carolina reaper is also known by its breeding name hp22b and was bred by ed currie in fort mill south carolina usa. 71 000 shu higher to be exact this gives the reaper a renewed title as world s hottest. Originally ranked as world s hottest in 2013 the reaper was tested again in 2018 with an even higher shu.
By itself the carolina reaper is once again officially the worlds hottest pepper. The previous world champion carolina reaper has been beat. With the carolina reaper at 2 2 million shu at its height its max heat reaches the lower end of commercial pepper sprays.
Commercial pepper sprays typically range from 2 million scoville heat units shu to 5 million shu. It averages a 1 569 300 on the scoville scale with peak levels of over 2 200 000 scoville heat units shu. The carolina reaper has been rated as the world s hottest chili pepper by guinness world records since august 07 2013.
The unit of measurement is the scoville heat unit shu and hot chili peppers range from 0 shus bell pepper to over 2 million shus carolina reaper. The scoville scale rates the spiciness of peppers through the measurement of capsaicin levels. Capsaicin is a chemical that makes chili peppers hot.
Carolina reaper shu scale. The sensory heat or pungency detected when eating a carolina reaper derives from the density of capsaicinoids particularly capsaicin which relates directly to intensity of chili pepper heat and scoville scale. Bred in a rock hill south carolina greenhouse by smokin ed currie proprietor of the puckerbutt pepper company in fort mill the carolina reaper was certified as the world s hottest. Insanity in edible form carolina reaper fast facts. Scoville heat units shu.
1 400 000 2 200 000 shu median heat. United states capsicum species. Chinense jalapeño reference scale. 175 to 880 times hotter use.
Approximately 1 5 to 2 inches long stinger tail flavor. Sweet fruity carolina reaper pop quiz. Carolina reaper what is shu and how it measured.
Carolina reaper what is shu and how it measured. Sweet fruity carolina reaper pop quiz. Approximately 1 5 to 2 inches long stinger tail flavor.
175 to 880 times hotter use. Chinense jalapeño reference scale. United states capsicum species.
1 400 000 2 200 000 shu median heat. Scoville heat units shu. Insanity in edible form carolina reaper fast facts.
Bred in a rock hill south carolina greenhouse by smokin ed currie proprietor of the puckerbutt pepper company in fort mill the carolina reaper was certified as the world s hottest. The sensory heat or pungency detected when eating a carolina reaper derives from the density of capsaicinoids particularly capsaicin which relates directly to intensity of chili pepper heat and scoville scale.