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    Home | Food Facts | Hot Peppers

    The Scoville Scale: A Comprehensive Guide

    Published: Sep 22, 2022 by Elle

    Jump to Recipe

    From fiery hot sauces to scorching-hot Indian curries, there's no shortage of spicy dishes out there that pack a serious punch. But just how spicy are they? That's where the Scoville Scale comes in. Read on to learn everything you need to know about this chili pepper-measuring system.

    Scoville Scale
    Jump to:
    • What is the Scoville Scale?
    • How Does the Scoville Scale Work? 
    • What are some of the Hottest Chili Peppers on the Scoville Scale?
    • What are some of the Mildest Chili Peppers on the Scoville Scale? 
    • List of Peppers
    • People Also Ask [FAQs]
    • Hot Pepper Chart
    • Wrap Up: The Scoville Scale
    • Recipe

    What is the Scoville Scale?

    The Scoville Scale is a measurement system that rates the heat level of chili peppers and other spicy foods. The scale is named after its inventor, Wilbur Scoville, who developed it in 1912, and it is still in use today.

    Peppers are ranked on the scale according to their capsaicin content, which is the compound that makes peppers hot. The scale ranges from 0 (no capsaicin) to 16 million (pure capsaicin).

    The vast majority of peppers fall between 100-500 Scoville Units. Some of the most popular peppers, such as jalapeños and serranos, fall between 2,500-25,000 units. For comparison, Tabasco sauce measures about 30,000-50,000 units on the Scoville heat scale.

    The world's hottest chili pepper can measure over 2 million units. These peppers are so hot that they are usually used as a food additive rather than being eaten whole.

    How Does the Scoville Scale Work? 

    The pungency (spiciness or "heat") of chili peppers is measured on the Scoville Scale and is expressed in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). The scale is named after the American pharmacist who created it, Wilbur Scoville. The Scoville organoleptic test is the name of his technique, which he developed in 1912.

    1. Scoville Organoleptic Test

    This is the first laboratory test used to measure the heat in chile peppers. To gauge the level of heat, human test volunteers taste a variety of prepared chile samples.

    The samples are diluted in the lab to the point that tasters are unable to sense heat. The Scoville Heat Unit represents one unit of dilution.

    This approach is refined and systematic, providing an accurate measure of a pepper's heat. As chili peppers have become increasingly popular in recent years, the Scoville Organoleptic Test has become an important tool for understanding the heat levels of different varieties.

    The Scoville Organoleptic Test is a more accurate and less expensive procedure than the "bite the chile" taste test, but it has its limitations, as the hot pepper test may vary from person to person depending on the taster's palate.

    2. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

    The HPLC is the most accurate method for measuring heat in chile peppers. This procedure involves drying and grinding the fruit, and then extracting the chemicals responsible for heat.

    The extract is injected into the HPLC for analysis, and this method allows the amounts of the individual capsaicinoids to be determined. In addition, many samples may be analyzed within a short period of time using HPLC.

    What are some of the Hottest Chili Peppers on the Scoville Scale?

    Here are some of the hot chili peppers on the scale, measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU):

    • Carolina Reaper: 2,200,000 SHU
    • Trinidad Moruga Scorpion: 2,009,231 SHU
    • Naga Viper: 1,359,000 SHU
    • Bhut Jolokia or Ghost Pepper: 1,041,427 SHU
    • Red Savina Habanero: 577,000 SHU
    Hottest Chili Peppers

    What are some of the Mildest Chili Peppers on the Scoville Scale? 

    Here are some of the mildest peppers on the scale, measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU):

    • Bell Pepper: 0 SHU
    • Banana Pepper : 500 SHU
    • Poblano Pepper: 1,500 SHU
    • Anaheim Pepper: 2,500 SHU
    • Jalapeño Pepper: 8,000 SHU

    List of Peppers

    There are many different types of peppers, some with more heat than others. The table below shows a list of peppers with their corresponding Scoville Heat Units (SHU) and origin. The peppers are listed in descending order of chili pepper heat.

    PeppersSHU RangeOrigin
    Carolina Reaper1,500,000 - 2,200,000USA
    Trinidad Moruga Scorpion1,500,000 - 2,009,231Trinidad and Tobago
    Naga Viper600,000 - 1,382,118England
    Ghost Pepper600,000 - 1,041,427India
    Red Savina Habanero600,000 - 1,041,427Amazon
    Habanero Chocolate300,000 - 500,000Jamaica
    Adjuma Pepper100,000 - 500,000Brazil
    Habanero Orange100,000 - 350,000Mexico
    Scotch Bonnet150,000 - 325,000Jamaica
    Bahamian Goat Pepper100,000 - 300,000Bahamas
    Thai Chili50,000 to 100,000Mexico
    Tien Tsin45,000 - 75,000China
    Cayenne Pepper30,000 - 50,000French Guiana
    Tabasco Pepper30,000 - 50,000Mexico
    Serrano Pepper10,000 - 25,000Mexico
    Jalapeño Pepper2,500 to 8,000Mexico
    Anaheim Pepper500 to 2,500New Mexico
    Bell Pepper0Mexico

    People Also Ask [FAQs]

    Is the Scoville scale accurate?

    Yes, the Scoville scale is accurate. This is because the amount of capsaicin present in a chili pepper can be measured using an accurate scientific process (high-performance liquid chromatography).

    Who ate the hottest pepper ever?

    Gregory Foster became the fastest person to eat three Carolina Reaper chilies, which are considered the world's hottest pepper, in a matter of 8.72 seconds.

    Hot Pepper Chart

    Scoville Scale
    Click here to download free Hot Pepper Chart

    Wrap Up: The Scoville Scale

    • The Scoville scale is a measure of the spiciness or heat of chili peppers.
    • It was developed by Wilbur Scoville in 1912.
    • The scale goes from 0 to 16 million units, with pure capsaicin (the compound that makes chili peppers spicy) scoring 16 million points.
    • Some common chili peppers and their scores on the Scoville scale include bell peppers (0), jalapeños (2,500-8,000), habaneros (100,000-350,000), and bhut jolokia or ghost peppers (1 million+).
    • We also explored a list of the most common mildest and hottest peppers in the world.
    • The hottest chile pepper in the world is the Carolina Reaper, which scores 2.2 million on the Scoville scale. For comparison, that's about 300-500 times hotter than a jalapeno pepper. 
    • As you can see, these peppers range in heat from moderate to extremely hot. If you're looking for a challenge, try working your way up the Scoville Scale!

    So there you have it: everything you need to know about the Scoville Scale! Whether you're a chili pepper aficionado or just someone who likes their food or hot sauce with a little bit of heat, we hope this guide has been helpful.

    Recipe

    Scoville Scale (SHU)

    Scoville Scale

    Elle
    Popular spices like chili peppers are available in a range of heat levels. The peppers that provide the most punch are the spiciest. The list below includes some of the hottest to mildest chili peppers.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 1 min
    Cook Time 1 min
    Course Peppers
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1
    Calories 69 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Super Hot Peppers, SHU Range (1M - 16M)

    • 1 Pure Capsaicin 16,000,000
    • 1 Carolina Reaper 1,500,000 – 2,200,000
    • 1 Trinidad Moruga Scorpion 1,500,000 – 2,009,231
    • 1 Naga Viper 600,000 – 1,382,118
    • 1 Ghost Pepper 600,000 – 1,041,427
    • 1 Red Savina Habanero 600,000 – 1,041,427

    Extremely Hot Peppers, SHU Range (50k - 500k)

    • 1 Habanero Chocolate 300,000 – 500,000
    • 1 Adjuma Pepper 100,000 – 500,000
    • 1 Habanero Orange 100,000 – 350,000
    • 1 Scotch Bonnet Red 150,000 – 325,000
    • 1 Bahamian Goat Pepper 100,000 – 300,000
    • 1 Thai chili 50,000 – 100,000
    • 1 Tien Tsin 45,000 – 75,000

    Hot Peppers, SHU Range (10k - 50k)

    • 1 Cayenne 30,000 – 50,000
    • 1 Tabasco 30,000 – 50,000
    • 1 Serrano 10,000 – 25,000

    Mild Peppers, SHU Range (0 - 10k)

    • 1 Jalapeño 2,500 – 8,000
    • 1 Anaheim Pepper 500 – 2,500
    • 1 Bell Pepper

    Instructions
     

    • The Scoville scale is used to quantify the heat or spiciness of chilli peppers.
    • The scale goes from 0 to 16 million units, with pure capsaicin (the compound that makes chili peppers spicy) scoring 16 million points.

    Notes

    As you can see, the heat level of these peppers ranges from mild to quite spicy. Try climbing the Scoville Scale if you're seeking for a challenge!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 69kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 388mgPotassium: 318mgFiber: 7gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 4330IUVitamin C: 190mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Scoville scale
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