Capsicum chinense with some Capsicum. frutescens genes
Origin: India
Aka: Naga Jolokia, Bhut Jolokia and Ghost Chili
Color/s: yellow, green, orange, red
Scoville Heat Units (SHU): (extremely hot) up to 1,041,427
Size: 2.3–3.4 inches
Shape: Long, smooth and fat – the shape of a very small cucumber
Other Interesting Facts:
- The name Naga gets its name either from the hills of Nagaland, which is a state in the far north-eastern part of India or another alternative source for Naga is that the name originates from the ferocious Naga warriors who once inhabited Nagaland.
- In 2007, Guinness World Records certified the Bhut Jolokia as the world’s hottest chili pepper
- On December 3, 2010, the Bhut Jolokia was replaced as the hottest known chili pepper by the Naga Viper pepper, which has an average peak Scoville rating more than 300,000 points higher than an average Bhut Jolokia
- In northeastern India, the peppers are smeared on fences or incorporated in smoke bombs as a safety precaution to keep wild elephants at a distance.
Click here to check out hot sauces made with Naga chilies