Scoville Scale and Chili Peppers

Let's get into how the Scoville Scale quantifies the heat of chili peppers by measuring their capsaicin strength in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), and learn where popular peppers land on the scale from mild to blistering.

This post also explores the historical roots of the scale (invented by pharmacist Wilbur Scoville in 1912) and how understanding it can deepen your appreciation and precision when cooking with spicy ingredients.

macho jalapeno turning green to red held in hand — *Image: Jalapeno Mammoth from my Garden*

Jump to:

What is the Scoville Scale?
Is the Carolina Reaper Really the Hottest Pepper?
Scoville Scale (Average SHU Range) with Place of Origin/Popularity
Popular Chili Pepper Pairings
Spicy Recipes
Tips for Handling Hot Peppers
Sound Like Chili Peppers but Are Not
Pepper Pastes with SHU
Health Benefits and Risks of Spicy Peppers
What Helps Relieve Chili Pepper Heat from Spicy Foods?
What is Your Favorite Hot Sauce? I Can't Live without Spicy Food!
Cooking Tips and Tutorials
Frequently Asked Questions
Leave a Comment or Ask a Question

What is the Scoville Scale?

It's a popular scale used to measure a chili pepper's heat level. The higher the number on the Scoville scale, the hotter the pepper. It's on a scale because the pepper's heat falls under a particular range. The chilies get their heat from the capsaicin, which is responsible for the irritation, pain, or burning sensation you may feel.

All spicy peppers have a certain concentration of capsaicin, hence the use of SHU, Scoville Heat Units (NIST.gov), to determine where it falls on the scale. So let's give Scientist Wilbur Scoville, an American pharmacist (Wikipedia), a shout-out for creating this method in 1912. The Scoville Scale below shows the Carolina Reaper as the hottest chili pepper.

animated chef maika in full chef uniform and hat.

Scoville Heat Units (SHU)? This measures the perceived spiciness of chili peppers by quantifying the concentration of capsaicin, the compound that causes heat.

Is the Carolina Reaper Really the Hottest Pepper?

There are many hotter peppers, but the hottest pepper consumed is the Caroline Reaper. On September 17, 2022, a brave man named Gregory Foster ate 10 of these bad boys in 33.15 seconds (Guinness World Record).

Another guy, Mike Jack, ate 50 in 6.49 seconds on November 5, 2022 (The Guardian). Both are in the Guinness World Records. Two of the many peppers hotter than the Caroline Reaper (Wikipedia) are the Komodo Dragon, with 1,400,000 to 2,200,000 SHU, and Pepper X (Wikipedia), with 3,180,000 SHU.

Scoville Scale (Average SHU Range) with Place of Origin/Popularity

SHU	Pepper Name *Links are Recipes	Origin/Popularity
2,000,000	Carolina Reaper Pepper	South Carolina, United States
2,000,000 - 1,200,000	Trinidad Moruga Scorpion	Moruga, Rinanadad and Tabago
1,400,000 - 1,300,000	Naga Viper Pepper	Cumbria, England
1,067,286 - 1,250,000	Infinity Chili	Grantham, Lincolnshire, England
1,001,304	Bhut Jolokia / Naga Jolokia, aka Ghost Pepper	Northeast India: Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland
350,000 - 750,000	Red Savina Habanero	California, United States
100,000 - 350,000	Habanero Chili Pepper	North of South America in the Amazon
100,000 - 350,000	Scotch Bonnet Pepper	West Africa
120,000	Macho Pepper	Oaxaca and Yucatan Region of Mexico
60,000 - 100,000	Malagueta Pepper	Brazil
50,000 - 100,000	Bird's Chili, aka Thai Chili Pepper	South East Asia
30,000 - 50,000	Tabasco Pepper	Mexico
30,000 - 50,000	Cayenne Pepper	Cayenne, French Guiana
30,000 - 50,000	Crushed Red Pepper, Cayenne Type	Cayenne, French Guiana
25,000 - 50,000	Aji Amarillo	Peru
25,000 - 50,000	Calabrian Chili Peppers	Calabria, Italy
15,000 - 30,000	Chile de Arbol	Mexico
10,000 - 25,000	Serrano Pepper	Puebla and Hidalgo, Mexico
10,000	Aleppo Pepper	Aleppo, Syria
10,000	Chongyang Chili Pepper	South Korea
2,500 -10,000	Jalapeño peppers / Chipotle	Mexico
2,500 - 5,000	Guajillo Chili	Mexico
1,000 - 8,000	Hatch Pepper	Hatch Valley, New Mexico
1,000 - 5,000	Baklouti Pepper	Tunisia
1,000 - 2,000	Moruga, Rinanadad, and Tabago	Puebla, Mexico
500 - 1,000	Cubanelle	Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Peurto Rico, and Italy
500 - 1,000	Beaver Dam Pepper	Wisconsin, United States
0 - 500	Pimiento	South America
50 - 200	Shishito Peppers	Japan
1 - 1,000	Medusa Peppers	South America
0	Bell Pepper / Paprika	Central and South America
0	Peperone Crusco	Basilicata, Italy

close up of medusa peppers in the garden — *Image: Medusa Pepper Plant in my Garden.*

Popular Chili Pepper Pairings

With Global Cuisines in the United States: Explore the vibrant world of chili peppers and their perfect pairings with global cuisines in the United States. This section jumps into the unique flavors and culinary traditions of various regions, highlighting how different chili peppers can elevate and complement dishes from around the world.

Why the United States? The phrase "in the United States" emphasizes that the chili pepper pairings are explored from the perspective of someone in the U.S., as culinary preferences and ingredient availability can vary significantly in other parts of the world.

Peppers Names	Bird's Chili, aka Thai Chili Pepper
Aleppo Pepper	Eastern European and Middle Eastern Cuisine
Bird's Chili aka Thai Chili Pepper	South East Asian Cuisine
Habanero Peppers	Caribbean Cuisine
Jalapeño peppers	Very Versatile
Serrano Pepper	East African, Indian, and Mexican Cuisine
Scotch Bonnet Pepper	West African and Caribbean Cuisine

My easy-to-read chart showcases popular chili peppers and the regional cuisines they enhance, offering you a guide to adding bold and exciting flavors to your cooking. Discover new ways to use your favorite peppers and uncover fresh combinations that will transform your cooking into a global culinary adventure.

Spicy Recipes

Are you looking for spicy recipes? Check these out:

See more Spicy →

Tips for Handling Hot Peppers

For more tips, check out my full guide on Prepping Hot Peppers for step-by-step instructions.

Wear Gloves - Protect your skin when cutting or seeding hot chili peppers.
Wash Hands Thoroughly - Always clean your hands after handling peppers to avoid irritation.
Avoid Touching Your Face - Capsaicin can cause severe burning if it contacts your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Use Separate Tools - Keep a dedicated cutting board and knife for peppers to prevent cross-contamination with other foods.
Ventilate Your Kitchen - Open a window or use a fan when cooking with very hot peppers, since the fumes can cause coughing or eye irritation.

close up of medusa and macho peppers in a flat Japanese basket — *Image: Picked Medusa and Macho Peppers from my Garden. Mostly, Medusa is on the left, and Macho is on the right.*

Sound Like Chili Peppers but Are Not

These papers actually are berries and, therefore, do not have Scoville units since they do not have capsaicin.

Sansho Pepper (Japanese) / Chopi Pepper (Korean) - Citrusy Tingling Heat
Tellicherry Pepper, aka Black Pepper (Native to South Asia) - Pungent Kick of Heat
Szechuan Pepper (Chinese) - Tingling Heat

close up of unripe medusa peppers in the garden — *Image: Unripe Medusa Peppers in My Garden*

Pepper Pastes with SHU

Pepper Paste	Chili Pepper	SHU
Sambal Olek	Commonly Red Chili Peppers, Bird's Eye Chili	50,000 - 100,000
Gochujang	Cheongyang	10,000 - 25,000
Chipotle in Adobo	Chipotle (Dried Jalapenos)	2,500 - 8,000
Zhug / Shug / S'kug	Unsure, but serrano and jalapenos are commonly used	2,000 - 8,000
Harissa	Baklouti Pepper	1,000 - 5,000

close up of unripe and ripe macho peppers in the garden — *Image: Ripe (red) and Unripe (green) Macho Peppers in my Garden.*

Health Benefits and Risks of Spicy Peppers

Metabolism Boost - Capsaicin may help increase calorie burn and improve circulation.
Natural Pain Relief - Studies suggest capsaicin reduces inflammation and can ease certain types of pain.
Nutrient-Rich - Chili peppers provide vitamin C, vitamin A, and antioxidants that support immune health.
Digestive Discomfort - Very spicy peppers can cause burning in the mouth, throat, or stomach.
Caution for Sensitive Stomachs - Those with acid reflux or gastrointestinal conditions may need to avoid very high Scoville peppers or consume them in moderation.

What Helps Relieve Chili Pepper Heat from Spicy Foods?

Dairy Products for Relief - A glass of milk, a spoonful of sour cream, or a serving of yogurt can calm chili pepper burn. These dairy foods contain casein, a protein that helps neutralize capsaicin, the compound responsible for heat.
Acidic Foods Balance the Burn - Ingredients like lemons, limes, and tomatoes add acidity that cuts through the oil-based heat of spicy peppers, providing quick comfort.
Sweeteners Soothe Spice - Adding a touch of sugar, honey, or sweet fruit can counteract the sharpness of chili pepper heat by balancing flavor on the palate.
Fatty Foods Break Down Capsaicin - Consuming olive oil, peanut butter, or other healthy fats helps dissolve capsaicin oils and reduce the lingering burn in your mouth.
Avoid Water - While it's tempting to reach for a glass of water, it actually spreads the capsaicin around your mouth, making the spicy heat from chili peppers feel worse.
Build Tolerance Over Time - Regularly eating spicy foods helps your body adjust, making the burn from chili peppers less intense as your taste buds adapt.

What is Your Favorite Hot Sauce? I Can't Live without Spicy Food!

men paw sauce a hot pepper sauce created by a Haitian chef. — *Image: Haitian Habanero Pepper Sauce by Men Pa'w*

I can finish half a bottle of Cholula Hot Sauce on tacos. Submerge my wings in Frank Red Hot Sauce. Dab my boiled eggs with Tobasco. I can't eat my pollo a la plancha with black bean sauce and rice without a good habanero sauce. And I will not use one of the sauces with a different meal. Good peppers combine sweetness and smokiness, making them unique and perfect for certain dishes.

Cooking Tips and Tutorials

What else do you want to learn about today?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are Scoville Heat Units (SHU)?

Scoville Heat Units are a measurement of chili pepper spiciness, based on the amount of capsaicin, the compound that causes heat.

Who invented the Scoville Scale?

The Scoville Scale was created in 1912 by pharmacist Wilbur Scoville to measure pepper heat levels through taste testing, later adapted to more precise lab methods.

What pepper ranks highest on the Scoville Scale?

Currently, the Carolina Reaper holds the record for the hottest pepper, measuring over 2 million Scoville Heat Units.

Are jalapeños high on the Scoville Scale?

Jalapeños are considered moderately spicy, ranging from 2,500 to 8,000 SHU, which makes them one of the most popular everyday chili peppers.

Why is the Scoville Scale important for cooking?

The Scoville Scale helps cooks choose peppers that match their desired heat level, making it easier to balance flavor and spiciness in recipes.