Did you know that. . . .
Peppers, both hot and mild, contain an ingredient that can actually make you feel better? It’s called capsaicin, and it’s a natural stimulant that causes the release of endorphins. (Endorphins are the body’s natural painkiller, and can create a sense of well-being, increase the heart rate and speed up metabolism.) It’s no wonder that peppers can actually be habit-forming!
The degree of heat of the pepper is measured in Scoville Units (S.U.) which is simply a measure of the capsaicin concentration. Pure capsaicin equals 15 million S.U. The color and shape of the pepper are significant to the S.U. level…the redder the pepper, the riper and therefore milder and fruitier it is. And peppers with wider “shoulders” tend to be milder.
Did you know that a chili pepper is indeed a fruit! Why is it a fruit? well, because it has seeds!
Types of Chili Peppers
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| Cayenne Chili Peppers | Jalapeno Chili Peppers | Chipotle Chili Peppers |
| 30,000-50,000 Scoville Units | 2500-8000 Scoville Units | 2500-8000 Scoville Units |
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| Habanero Chili Peppers | Scotch Bonnet Chili Peppers | Naga Chili Peppers |
| 100,000-350,000 Scoville Units | 100,000-350,000 Scoville Units | 1,001,304 Scovilles |
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| Tabasco Chili Peppers | Trinidad Scorpion Pepper | Birds Eye Chili Peppers |
| 30,000-50,000 Scoville Units | 300,000+ Scoville Units | 50,000-100,000 Scoville Units |
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| Chocolate Habanero Pepper | Serrano Chili Peppers | Red Savina Pepper |
| 100,000-300,000 Scoville Units | 5000-23,000 Scoville Units | 200,000-580,000 Scoville Units |
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| Pimento Pepper | Poblano Pepper | Ancho Pepper (Dried Poblano) |
| 100-500 Scoville Units | 1000-2000 Scoville Units | 1000-2000 Scoville Units |
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| Chilaka Chili Pepper | Pasilla Chili Pepper (Dried Chilaca) aka “little raisin” | Capsicum Extract |
| 1000-2500 Scoville Units | 1000-2500 Scoville Units |