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What is the Scoville Scale?
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Chris Whitehair
- Last Updated: August 31, 2025
The Scoville Scale – Explained.
The quest for the hottest pepper never ends, but people like Ed Currie are on the case.
His Carolina Reaper Pepper X is the current record holder for being the world’s hottest pepper (more on that below).
Eating one hot pepper after another to see how hot they are might not sound fun (although many people might think so), but fortunately, that’s not necessary.
The Scoville Scale was created to measure the heat of a pepper without risking damage to your taste buds.
How does the scale work? Let’s take a look.
Wilbur Scoville
Inventor of the Scoville Scale
A Brief History of the Scoville Heat Scale
The Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) scale was invented in 1912 by American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville.
Working at the Parke-Davis pharmaceutical company, Scoville sought to measure the pungency, or spicy heat, of chili peppers by quantifying their capsaicin concentration.
Capsaicin is the chemical responsible for that familiar burn.
Wilbur Scoville devised the original method, now known as the Scoville Organoleptic Test, by creating pepper extracts that were then diluted with sugar water.
While groundbreaking, this early method was subjective—palates differ, and factors such as individual spice tolerance could influence the results.
Today, modern testing of pepper heat uses high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure precise levels of capsaicinoids, providing objective, lab-based results while retaining the famous Scoville scale for consistency in labeling and understanding.
A panel of five taste testers sampled each solution; Scoville would continue diluting the pepper extract until the group could no longer detect any heat.
The number of dilutions needed to mask the pepper’s spiciness determined its score on the Scoville scale.
For example, a pepper extract that required 10,000 dilutions to lose its heat would be rated at 10,000 Scoville Heat Units.
What the Numbers on the Scale Mean
The Scoville Scale assigns a numerical value, in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), to indicate the spiciness of a pepper or pepper-based product.
A pepper’s SHU rating reflects how many times an extract of that pepper must be diluted with sugar water before its heat becomes undetectable to a human taster.
For instance, if it takes 100 teaspoons of water to render one teaspoon of pepper extract heatless, that pepper rates at 100 SHU.
Because environmental factors, such as soil, climate, growing conditions, and even the pepper’s ripeness, can influence capsaicin content, two peppers of the same variety often have a range of Scoville ratings, rather than a single number.
For example, jalapeños might test anywhere from 2,500 to 8,000 SHU, depending on how and where they’re grown.
At the mild end of the scale, bell peppers register 0 SHU since they contain no capsaicin.
At the extreme, pure capsaicin is rated at 15 to 16 million SHU, which is entirely inedible and dangerously hot to humans.
For reference, even the hottest chili peppers in the world, like the Carolina Reaper and Pepper X, “only” reach between 1.6 and 2.7 million SHU, far short of pure capsaicin’s intensity.
Where Common Peppers Land on the Scale
Curious about how spicy your favorite peppers really are?
Here’s how some of the most common varieties are ranked on the Scoville Scale in terms of Scoville Heat Units (SHU):
| Pepper | Scoville Heat Units (SHU) |
|---|---|
| Bell Pepper | 0 |
| Banana Pepper | 0–500 |
| Anaheim Pepper | 500–2,500 |
| Jalapeño Pepper | 2,500–8,000 |
| Serrano Pepper | 10,000–25,000 |
| Cayenne Pepper | 30,000–50,000 |
| Thai Chili | 50,000–100,000 |
| Habanero Pepper | 100,000–350,000 |
| Ghost Pepper | 800,000–1,000,000 |
As you can see, bell peppers are completely mild, registering at zero SHU.
Banana peppers are only gently spicy, rated between 0 and 500 SHU, which makes them a popular addition to salads and sandwiches.
Anaheim peppers step things up a bit, ranging from 500 to 2,500 SHU.
For those who crave more heat, jalapeños bring a sharp, noticeable kick, ranging from 2,500 to 8,000 SHU.
While that’s spicy to many, the jalapeño is considered relatively mild in the big picture of hot peppers.
Climbing higher, cayenne peppers (30,000–50,000 SHU) and Thai chilis (50,000–100,000 SHU) pack considerably more fire.
Habanero peppers are famous for their heat and fruitiness, ranging from 100,000 to 350,000 SHU.
At the extreme end for most people, the notorious Ghost pepper tops out at an incredible 1,000,000 SHU, making it one of the world’s hottest peppers; yet, even this isn’t the true summit of the scale.
How Do You Know if a Pepper Will be Hot?
Wondering if a pepper will pack serious heat before tasting it?
Fortunately, there are a few visual clues that can help predict a pepper’s spiciness, even in the supermarket aisle.
Size is a significant indicator: Smaller peppers typically carry higher concentrations of capsaicin, the compound that gives peppers their signature burn.
So, if you spot a tiny chili, be prepared for a more intense heat compared to a larger, milder variety, such as bell or banana peppers.
Texture can also offer hints: Peppers with a bumpy, wrinkled, or ridged exterior often tend to be hotter than their smooth-skinned counterparts.
While this isn’t always a universal rule, some smooth peppers, such as habaneros, are extremely hot; it’s a helpful generalization when navigating unfamiliar varieties.
If you encounter a small pepper with a wrinkled, rugged look, chances are it could be exceptionally spicy. These traits often signal a powerful punch of capsaicin.
Just remember, appearances can sometimes deceive, so exercise caution and consult the Scoville rating when possible.
The World’s Hottest Pepper (For Now)
As of today, Pepper X, cultivated by Ed Currie and his team at the Puckerbutt Pepper Company, holds the official Guinness World Record for the hottest pepper on earth, scoring a mind-blowing 2,693,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
Ed Currie has devoted his career to developing hotter and hotter peppers. As firsthand proof, he even gave me his own ultra-spicy creation at the 2019 NYC Hot Sauce Expo, making for an unforgettable (and fiery) experience!
For perspective, standard pepper spray ranks between 2 million and 5 million SHU, so Pepper X approaches the potency of professional self-defense spray.
If you’re experimenting with superhot varieties like Carolina Reapers or Pepper X, always wear gloves and avoid any contact with your eyes.
Safety first: respect the power of these peppers; a little goes a long way.
One spray and you’re South of the Border!
What About Hot Sauces?
Just like chili peppers, hot sauces are measured using the Scoville Scale.
Their spiciness is determined by the number of dilutions required to eliminate detectable heat, resulting in a Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) rating that’s easy to compare across brands and flavors.
One of the most classic hot sauces is Tabasco, which is found everywhere, from diners to grocery stores. Tabasco rates between 2,000 and 5,000 SHU, offering a pleasant kick but staying well below the end of the scale.
For those craving more adventure, there’s a world of ultra-hot brands to try.
Premium sauces from Hellfire and Elijah’s Xtreme routinely climb to much higher SHU levels, appealing to heat lovers who want more than just a mild zing.
Even the names, like Blair’s Mega Death Sauce, suggest serious firepower.
Blair’s features a pepper blend including cayenne (30,000–50,000 SHU), chipotle (5,000–10,000 SHU), and habanero (100,000–350,000 SHU), making it one of the most intense sauces available.
From mild to wild, the Scoville Scale enables fans to easily gauge the level of daring their next sauce should be, empowering a flavor-first journey for every palate.
Hot Sauces at Every Step of the Scoville Scale
Whether you’re after just a hint of spice or a sauce that nearly burns a hole in your tongue, Flower City Flavor Company truly has you covered.
While we love providing options across the full spectrum of the Scoville Heat Scale, from Mild to Extremely Hot, our philosophy is always flavor first.
We know that great hot sauce isn’t only about heat; it’s about taste, freshness, and the perfect blend for your unique palate.
You’ll find carefully curated sauces for every spice level and every culinary need.
Ready to explore? Get in touch with us and let’s see the perfect flavor for you!
