How Hot is a Ghost Pepper?
The ghost pepper is one of spiciest chili peppers in the world. So spicy, in fact, that the Indian Army uses them to make chili grenades. Yes, weaponized peppers. However, how spicy is that to the palate? What is like to bite into one of these infamous chili peppers? Keep reading to find out just how hot a ghost pepper really is!
What exactly is the ghost pepper? 
The ghost pepper is an interspecific hybrid chili pepper, cultivated in the Northeast Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. An extremely variable plant, the ghost pepper produces a wide range of fruit sizes. Generally, a fully ripe ghost pepper measures in from 2.4 to 3.3 in long and 1.0 to 1.2 in wide. The peppers themselves are red, yellow, orange depending on their ripeness.
Where does the name ghost pepper come from?
The ghost pepper’s name is a literal translation from its Hindi name: Bhut Jolokia. Bhut in Hindi means “ghost” while Jolokia translates to pepper or chili. However, as Northeast India is very linguistically diverse part of the world, the ghost pepper has many different names including: ghost chili, Red Naga chili, Naga Bhut Jolokia, Bhoot Jolokia, and more.
Inhabitants of Assam, the India state famous for its tea plantations, refer to the ghost pepper as bih zôlôkia. In Assamese Bih means “poison” and zôlôkia means pepper, making the literal translation Poison Pepper, obviously referring to it’s extreme spiciness. And in case you were wondering, yes, ghost peppers can kill you.
Where do they rank on the Scoville Chart?
See where the Ghost Pepper ranks on this Scoville chart!
In 2007, theghost pepper ranked as the the world’s hottest chili pepper.With a Scoville score of 1,041,427 SHU, it is about 400 times hotter than Tabasco sauce, about 200 times hotter than a jalapeño pepper, and about 6 times hotter than a habanero pepper.
Since 2007, the ghost chili has been supplanted from its prominent position as the world’s spiciest pepper. First by the Infinity chili in 2011; followed by the Naga Viper, from the same region in India; then the Trinidad moruga scorpion in 2012; and finally the Carolina Reaper, which claimed the world record in 2013 with a Scoville score of 1,569,300. However, just because there are higher ranking peppers out there doesn’t make it any less spicy!
Does the Indian Army really convert them into chili grenades?
Yes. Ghost peppers are so spicy that the Indian government uses them to make military grade smoke bombs, which have come in handy controlling rioters in Jammu and Kashmir. The non-lethal weapon, sometimes referred to as achili grenade, emits a powerful skin and eye irritant as well as pungent smell that causes it’s targets to become physically incapacitated.
As if that isn’t enough of an indication of their piquant power, local residents from the Northern India states where the pepper originates, often smear ghost peppers on fences and walls to keep wild elephants from entering certain areas.
So how spicy are we talking?
So just how hot is a ghost pepper? Well, not only do they put other popular peppers — jalapeños and habaneros — to shame but also they are hot enough to fend off elephants, control civilian riots, and even kill you.
Oh, and did we mention that one time a ghost pepper burned a hole a man’s throat? That’s right, after biting into a burger smothered with a ghost-pepper puree, the man began to vomit and gasp for air. An ambulance rushed him to the hospital, where he wasn’t discharged until 23 days later with a gastric tube.
Think you can handle a ghost pepper?
Think you can handle a ghost pepper? Go ahead, we dare you. Try Small Axe Pepper’s Ghost Pepper Sauce to see if you can handle a hot sauce made from one of the world’s spiciest peppers, grown in a community garden near you. While it is by far our spiciest hot sauce, that doesn’t mean we skimped on delicious flavor. The freshly ground chipotle powder in this hot sauce adds a smokiness which makes it a perfect addition well in any chile, pozole, gumbo, or any other slow cooked meal that needs a little extra spice!
I am a seasoned enthusiast in the realm of chili peppers, and my extensive knowledge extends to the ghost pepper, also known as Bhut Jolokia. My expertise goes beyond mere academic understanding; I've delved into the cultural and practical applications of this fiery chili. The ghost pepper's reputation as one of the hottest peppers globally has not only caught my attention but fueled my passion for understanding its origins, uses, and, most importantly, its heat intensity.
The ghost pepper, originating in Northeast India, particularly in states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur, is an interspecific hybrid chili pepper. Its botanical variability results in a range of fruit sizes, typically measuring 2.4 to 3.3 inches long and 1.0 to 1.2 inches wide when fully ripe. The pepper comes in vibrant colors, transitioning from red to yellow or orange based on ripeness.
The name "ghost pepper" is a direct translation of its Hindi name, Bhut Jolokia, where "bhut" means "ghost," and "jolokia" translates to "pepper" or "chili." The linguistic diversity in Northeast India assigns various names to this fiery chili, including ghost chili, Red Naga chili, Naga Bhut Jolokia, and Bhoot Jolokia. Notably, inhabitants of Assam refer to it as "bih zôlôkia," translating to "Poison Pepper" in Assamese due to its extreme spiciness, hinting at its potential lethality.
Ghost peppers have earned their place on the Scoville Chart, a scale measuring the heat intensity of peppers. In 2007, they claimed the title of the world's hottest chili pepper with a Scoville score of 1,041,427 SHU (Scoville Heat Units). To put this into perspective, it's approximately 400 times hotter than Tabasco sauce, 200 times hotter than a jalapeño, and six times hotter than a habanero. While it held its position for a brief period, subsequent contenders like the Infinity chili, Naga Viper, Trinidad moruga scorpion, and the Carolina Reaper have since surpassed its Scoville score.
The Indian Army employs ghost peppers in the production of military-grade smoke bombs, colloquially known as chili grenades. These non-lethal weapons release a powerful irritant that incapacitates targets during riot control, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, residents in the pepper's native regions use them to deter wild elephants by smearing ghost peppers on fences and walls.
The anecdotal evidence of a man experiencing throat burns after consuming a ghost pepper-infused burger underscores the severity of its spiciness. This incident resulted in a 23-day hospital stay with a gastric tube, emphasizing the potential dangers associated with underestimating the heat of ghost peppers.
In conclusion, the ghost pepper's notoriety extends beyond culinary preferences, making it a subject of military applications, riot control, and even wildlife deterrence. Its intense heat, backed by Scoville scores and real-world incidents, solidifies its status as one of the world's spiciest peppers. If you're daring enough to take on the challenge, products like Small Axe Peppers' Ghost Pepper Sauce offer a flavorful yet intensely spicy experience, showcasing the versatility of this fiery chili.
