Ultimate List Of Peppers & Their SHU

SCOVILLE SCALE: ULTIMATE LIST OF PEPPER’S & THEIR SCOVILLE HEAT UNITS

WHAT IS THE SCOVILLE SCALE?

The Scoville Scale is a measure, named after Wilbur L. Scoville, of the chilli pepper’s heat. Put simply, it measures the concentration of the chemical compound capsaicin. Capsaicin is the beautiful natural chemical brings the heat and makes your forehead sweat, your tongue burn and your stomach ache!

To measure the concentration of capsaicin, a solution of the chilli pepper’s extract is diluted in sugar water until the ‘heat’ is no longer detectable to a panel of tasters. A rating of 0 Scoville Heat Units (SHUs) means that there is no heat detectable.

HOW DO YOU MEASURE A SCOVILLE HEAT UNIT?

To measure the concentration of capsaicin, a solution of the chilli pepper’s extract is diluted in sugar water until the ‘heat’ is no longer detectable to a panel of tasters. A rating of 0 Scoville Heat Units (SHUs) means that there is no heat detectable.

The Scoville scale isn’t without its detractors. A common criticism is the test’s reliance on human testers.

WHAT IS THE HOTTEST CHILLI IN THE WORLD?

The Carolina Reaper (2,200,000 SHU) is the hottest pepper in the world – ranging from 1,500,000 Scoville Heat Units and peaking at 2,200,000 SHUs. The Scoville Scale is dominated early by chemical compounds such as Resiniferatoxin (16,000,000,000 SHU) – a chemical likely to cause chemical burns on contact with the skin.