Meet The Hottest Pepper

The hottest pepper in the world (By Far)

The origin of the Bhut Jolokia goes back hundreds of years and can be traced to the state of Assam in northeastern India. It was originally grown in this region as well as in areas of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
It is also called the following names-

Naga (Cobra snake) Jolokia in Sanskrit
Raja Mirchi (King of Chilis) Nai Miris (Cobra Chili) in Sri Lanka
Naga Morich (Cobra Chili) in Bangladesh
Oo-Morok (Tree Chili) in Manipur
The Ghost Pepper or Ghost Chili in US

It was not known to the Western world until around 2000.

On September 6, 2000 the Defense Research Laboratory (DRL) located in Tezpur, Assam, India published a report stating that it had achieved a new world record of 855,000 SHU (Scoville heat units) obtained from a Naga Jolokia pepper. The DRL utilized the original method of measuring the heat of peppers invented by Wilbur Scoville in 1912. This method of testing was disputed by several professors, and experts in the United States and other parts of the world. They stated that this type of testing was too subjective and the only recognized and accurate type of testing was High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) because it removes all subjectivity. The chili tested by the DRL was not recognized as the record holder because of this.

Bhut Jolokia seeds were brought to the United States to be planted and tested by members of the Chili Pepper Institute (CPI) located on the campus of the New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 2001. Because of poor fruit and seed set, it took several years to get an acceptable field trial. Finally in 2005, at the Leyendecker Plant Science Research Center (1.5 miles south of Las Cruces) seeds were started in a plant medium under strict control and guidelines utilizing man-made chemical fertilizers. Professor Paul Bosland of NMSU was in charge and finally in the Fall of 2006, success was achieved. The Bhut Jolokia was confirmed as the world record holder by Guinness, and in February, 2007 it was official. Rated at 1,001,304 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), it bested by almost 2 times the old record holder the Red Savina Habanero.

At The Waimea Bay Chili Pepper Company, all of our plants are grown organically. The heat content of the Bhut Jolokia is increased by humidity and rainfall, something that we have plenty of here on the North Shore of Oahu. Our plants are 2 to 3 times larger than the typical Bhut Jolokia and produce 5 times as many fruit (200-250) per plant. It is our intent to break Professor Bosland's record this year. Stay tuned...