I’m one of those few people that are gifted with the ability to eat spicy foods and not be affected by it! I just think it’s really funny how some people always brag about how they can handle their peppers but the minute that spicy pepper hits their mouth they start to turn red and their eye begin to water and all you can do is laugh and shake your head because you know the pain they’re going through.
The Habanero Chili Pepper
Anyways, today I’m addressing all of you grocery shoppers that want to try spicy peppers but aren’t really sure how much spiciness you can handle. Well obviously the main way to see how spicy a pepper is to try it, but you are playing with fire my friends, literally you will be on fire now and later (if you know what I mean). But if you are not willing to take the “test” then just follow the Scoville scale! The Scoville scale is the measurement of how spicy a chili pepper is, and the Scoville scale is based off the amount of capsaicin there is present in a pepper. Capsaicin is a compound that stimulates chemoreceptor nerve endings, and it also affects the mucous membranes which is why you always seem to have that runny nose after eating a spicy meal. So I’m going to introduce you to 6 chili peppers that people tend to consume.
- Jalapeno- The jalapeno is the most commonly consumed chili pepper because it gives people that spicy feeling they crave but it doesn’t leave them with that overwhelming feeling. The jalapeno has 2,500 – 5,000 Scoville Units.
- Habanero- The habanero is very spicy chili pepper, believe me if you are comfortable with the jalapeno, DO NOT TRY THIS CHILI PEPPER!! Your bowels will most likely be on fire because its not a step up from the jalapeno it is a huge LEAP from it. The habanero ranges between 100,000 – 350,000 scoville units!
- Red Savina Habanero- the red savina habanero is the big brother of the regular habanero. One again, approach with caution. The red savina habanero ranges between 350,000 – 580,000 scoville units.
- Naga Jolokia- Any pepper from now and up are for only extreme, professional chili pepper eaters! This pepper is so hot, it could potentially scar you from never wanting to try another chili pepper! The Naga Jolokia ranges between 855,000 – 1,050,000 scoville units!
- Naga Viper- If you can handle this pepper, you are one of the few in the world! the Naga Viper is set at 1,359,000 scoville units.
- Trinand Scorpion Butch t- One word……DONT! If you are ever presented with this pepper, just run! Its basically taking a bite of the sun! The Trinand Scorpion Butch t is the hottest chili pepper in the world, setting its scoville units at 1,463,000!
The Trinidad Scorpion Batch t Chili Pepper
If you are an amateur chili pepper eater, please stay away from 4 and up! I’d recommend you to start small and slowly move up to the regular habanero. But if you think you can handle it, you can find most chili peppers at your local grocery store. It might a little harder trying to find the Naga Jolokia, Naga Viper, and Trinand Scorpion Butch t because these are chili peppers that most people cannot eat so your local grocery store may not have them! So I wish you the best of luck, now and later!
Now its your turn readers! What is the spiciest chili pepper you’ve eaten? Leave your comments below! :)
Luke Henry is the Marketing Director at IT Retail, a grocery POS solution provider out of Riverside CA. He is an inbound marketing specialist and manages IT Retail's; Social Media, SEO, PR, PPC, and weekly podcasts. He is an advocate of using non traditional marketing channels to generate business. He enjoys helping others with their inbound marketing efforts and can be reached at lukehenry@itretail.com.