Cayenne pepper
The cayenne pepper is another hot pepper (between 25,000 and 50,000 on the Scoville heat index) that is popular with those looking to add heat to food. Red in color, the cayenne pepper is generally dried and used in powder form. Additionally, this pepper has been used in natural medicines for hundreds of years due to reported healing attributes.
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Tabasco pepper
As you may have guessed, the tabasco pepper is used to make Tabasco sauce. If you’ve ever tasted how hot Tabasco sauce is, you won’t be surprised to learn that the tabasco pepper has a Scoville heat index of between 30,000 and 60,000. The actual pepper is less than 2 inches long and can be green, red, yellow or orange in color.
Thai pepper
Grown in Thailand and neighboring countries, the Thai pepper can be classified as “very hot.” With a Scoville heat index of between 50,000 and 100,000, these peppers are sure to leave your taste buds wanting relief. The Thai pepper is one of the smallest peppers, measuring in at less than an inch. It’s used in many spicy Thai dishes at restaurants in the U.S.
Rocoto pepper
While rocoto peppers look somewhat like bell peppers, it can be dangerous to get the two mixed up. While bell peppers aren’t hot at all, the rocoto pepper is extremely hot. Between 100,000 and 250,000 on the Scoville heat index, this pepper is about the size of a bell pepper but is rounder and is typically only red or green. Some people use this pepper to make very spicy sauces.
Habanero chili pepper
Of hot peppers that are commonly used, the habanero chili is recognized as the hottest. This pepper, which can be any color from green to yellow to pink, is usually only around 3 centimeters in length. However, do not let the small size fool you — the habanero chili can pack a punch! The Scoville heat index for the habanero chili can range from 150,000 to 350,000.
Ghost pepper
Also known as Naga Jolokia, this pepper is close to being the hottest pepper in the world. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized the ghost pepper in 2006 after reports surfaced that this pepper has a Scoville heat index of over 1,000,000. If you get your hands on a ghost pepper, be sure to be extremely careful, because one seed from this pepper will have your mouth burning for up to 30 minutes.
Carolina reaper
And here’s the big gun we’ve all been waiting for: Smokin Ed’s ‘Carolina Reaper’, grown by The PuckerButt Pepper Company (USA), has been recognized as the hottest pepper in all the world by The Guinness Book of World Records. With a Scoville heat index of 1,569,300 recorded in 2012, all we can say is — watch out.
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