The Scoville scale

[Durgan]

The Scoville scale

http://www.chilefarm.co.uk/scoville.html

The Scoville scale is a measure of the hotness of a chilli pepper. These particular fruits contain capsaicin, a chemical compound which stimulates heat-receptor nerve endings, and the number of Scoville units indicates the amount of capsaicin present.

List of Scoville ratings

Scoville ratings may vary considerably within a species—easily by a factor of 10 or more—depending on seed lineage, climate and even soil. This is especially true of Habanero peppers. A brief summary of some heat levels....

16,000,000 - Pure capsaicin
5,300,000 - Police grade pepper spray
2,000,000 - Common pepper spray
350,000 - 580,000 - Red Savina Habanero
100,000 - 350,000 - Habanero
100,000 - 325,000 - Scotch Bonnet
100,000 - 225,000 - Birds Eye pepper
100,000 - 200,000 - Jamaican Hot pepper
80,000 - Dave's Insanity Sauce
50,000 - 100,000 - Thai pepper
30,000 - 50,000 - Cayenne pepper
30,000 - 50,000 - Tabasco pepper
2,500 - 8,000 - Jalapeño pepper
2,500 - 5,000 - Tabasco sauce
0 - Sweet Bell pepper

[Lez]

very interesting. I have never tried chilli's before and on a whim bought two different ones from the garden centre with the view of growing some to use in home made chilli con carne. one of the ones I bought appears on your list and is 'tabasco'. the other is 'super frenso'. one of the lads at work is into his chilli's and though I am not vindaloo hot person do like some dishes. I see that the 'dorset naga' does not appear and having seen Michael Michaud on river cottage realise he now has a company groing them in dorset. I can see why people getted hooked on their production. two plants and the interest generated now to bring these on is great. how good this grow your own hobby is as a slight deviation and away you go on yet another tangent learnig and growing your knowledge aswell as the vegetables. brilliant I think but then again I am a self confessed anorak where veggie/fruit growing is concerned and nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing my family tuck in to all that lovely home grown food. good luck all.