Chile Pepper Heat Scale

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Chile Heat Scale


Fresh Chilies

The relative heat rating on this chart is based on a simple relative cale of 1 - 10. The Scoville rating is given if available. Click the chile name for additional information. Photographs are used by permission of Chiliplants.com the most comprehensive resource for chili plants on the web.
Relative Heat Rating Scoville Units
Anaheim (green) chile (C. annuum). 2-3 4.500 - 5.000
Anaheim (red) chili (C. annuum) 2-3 4.500 - 5.000
Bell pepper(green, yellow, orange, red) 0 0-100
Brazilian Malagueta 9
Chawa 3-4
Chilaca 3-4 2000
De Agua chile (red or green) 4-5
Dutch (red) 6
Fiesta Fips 6-8
Fresno Red 6.5
Guero 4.5 - 6.5
Habanero 10 200,000 to 300,000
Huachinano 5-6
Hungarian Cherry Pepper 1-3
Hungarian sweet chili 0-1
Jalapeno (green) 5.5 2,500-5,000
Jalapeno (red) 5.5 2,500-5,000
Jamaican Hot 9
Korean 6-7
Macho (green) 9 -10
Macho (red) 9-10
Manzana 6-8
Naga jolokia (India) 10 +++ (still undocumented) 280,000
New Mexico (green) 3-5
New Mexico (red) 3-4
Peruvian (gr, yellow, red) 7-8
Peter Pepper 7.5
Pimento 1
Poblano (green or red) 3
Rocotillo (red, green) 7-8
Santa Fe Grande 6
Scotch Bonnet 9 - 10 100,000-350,000
Serrano (red or green) 7
Sweet Purple pepper 0 -1
Tobasco (yellow, red, orange) 9 30,000-50,000
Tepin 8
Thai 7-8 100,000-350,000
Dried Chiles
Aji Amarillo 7-8 30,000- 50,000
Aji Mirasol 2.5 2,500-5,000
Aji Panca 1.5 500 - 1000
Ancho 3-5 1,000-4,000
California / Anaheim    500 - 1500
Cascabel 4 1500 - 2500
Catarina 5 500
Cayynne 8 30,000-50,000
Chilhuacle Amarillo 4
Chihuacle Negro 4-5 2000
Chilhuacle Rojo 3
Chilcostle 5
Chiltepin/ Tepin
 6 50,000 - 100,000
Chipotle 5-6 15,000
Costeno rojo
 6-7 3,500 - 5,000
Costeno Amarillo 4 1,250 - 2,000
De Arbol 7.5 20,000-40,000
Guajillo 2-4 2000 - 8000
Habanero 10 100,000 - 350,000
Hungarian Cherry Pepper 1-3
Mora/ Meco Chipotle
 6 3000 - 10,000
Morita 6.5 15,000 - 30,000
Mulato 2-4 500 - 3000
New Mexico (green) 3-5
New Mexigo (red) 2-4 1000 - 3500
New Mexico (NuMex Eclipse) 2-3 300 - 500
New Mexico (NuMex Sunrise) 2-3 200 -1000
New Mexico (NuMexSunset) 2-3 200-300
New Mexico Miniatures 2-3
Onza 4-5
Pasado 5
Pasilla / Chile Negro
 3-5 1,000-4,000
Pasilla De Oaxaca 6-7 10,000
Patzcuraro 5-6
Pepperoncini 5
Pequin 8.5 100,000 - 140,000
Pico De Pajaro 6-7
Pulla/ Puya
 6 5000 - 8000
Serrano Seco 7.5 5,000-15,000
Serrano Seco De Yucatan 7.5 5,000-15,000
Tepin 8 40,000 - 70,000
Tuxtla 7

What's a Scoville?

Capsaicinoid content is measured in parts per million. These parts per million are converted into Scoville heat units, the industry standard for measuring a pepper's punch. One part per million is equivalent to 15 Scoville units. Bell peppers have a value of zero Scoville units, whereas habanero -- some of the hottest peppers--register a blistering 200,000 to 300,000. Pure capsaicin has a Scoville heat unit score of 16 million." (p.140)

From Margen, S. et. al (1992).The wellness encyclopedia of food and nutrition: How to buy, store, and prepare every variety of fresh food. Distributed by Random House. ISBN 0-929661-03-6.

More Chile Links

Sources

Chileplanet.eu - Exhaustive list of chiles with descriptions, heat ratings.
CayenneDiane - Large list of chiles with average Scoville heat units.

author

Barbara Bowman graduated with degree in Foods and Nutrition from San Jose State University. As CEO of GourmetSleuth.com she spends most waking hours writing, cooking, eating, gardening and traveling.