Naga Jolokia pepper
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The Naga Jolokia pepper (Capsicum frutescens - same species as the Tabasco pepper) is a chilli pepper found in the army garrison town of Tezpur, in the north-eastern state of Assam, India. It is reported to have a Scoville rating of 855,000 SHU, but this measurement has only been confirmed in one laboratory, and is subject to criticism by experts in the field.
It is also called Bih Jolokia in some places of Assam (Bih = Poison, Jolokia = chilli pepper; in Assamese).
When ripe it measures two inches long and a half inch wide with an orange color. Similar in looks to the Habanero pepper.
It is wild chilli, unlike the cultivated Red Savina Habanero pepper which is the current record holder as hottest chilli with a 580,000 SHU rating. However, a recent report was made that Naga Jolokia measures to 855,000 Scoville units. Both the Red Savina and the Naga Jolokia claims lack independent verification, and their validity is disputed. Pure capsaicin rates at 16,000,000 Scoville units
External links
- News of discovery and debunking:
- Report from journal Current Science http://tejas.serc.iisc.ernet.in/~currsci/aug102000/scr974.pdf