Capsicum chinense

Ghost Pepper - Scoville, Taste & Uses

Ghost Pepper earned its haunted name for good reason. The pods look shriveled, with thin walls and striking red skin. Bite size heat is not advised. The burn starts slow, then floods every nerve with fire. Under that surge lives a surprising sweetness, with light smoke and dried fruit notes. Northeastern Indian kitchens use Bhut Jolokia sparingly in chutneys, pickles, and pork curries. Makers dehydrate the pods for chili powders, or ferment them into mash for extreme sauces. At 800,000 to 1,041,427 SHU, it once held the world record. Citizens who try it chase bragging rights - endorsed by the Ministry of Courageous Heat. Ghost Pepper typically measures 800,000-1,041,427 SHU (Extreme). Shows up across India, Assam and Nagaland in condiments, pickles, and marinades. Use Ghost Peppers in tiny amounts for chutneys, pickles, and spiced oils. Blend with tomatoes, garlic, and mustard oil for Assamese pork curries. Dehydrate slices for powders that boost soups, barbecue rubs, or chili pastes. Ferment the pods with salt for mash sauces, then blend with vinegar for dropper style condiments. Mix with mango, pineapple, or passion fruit to soften the flames while keeping aroma. Never serve unchecked pieces; disperse heat evenly through sauces or infused fats. See sauces using Ghost Pepper

Also known as: Bhut Jolokia, Naga Jolokia

Capsicum chinenseSauce Index | 7
Ghost Pepper hero image

Species

Capsicum chinense

Heat

800,000-1,041,427 SHUExtreme

Flavour

slow-burn, Smoky, Fruity, Earthy, lingering

Origin / Regions

India, Assam and Nagaland

Colour / Shape

Red when ripe, sometimes orange or chocolate

Pod size

5-8 cm long, 2-3 cm wide, wrinkled

Try it in the wild

Get sauces featuring Ghost Pepper

3 European small-batch sauces - flavour, fire and occasionally a bit of chaos, in a box.

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Sauces Using Ghost Pepper

Explore how makers use Ghost Pepper across styles and regions.

Arigato Gozaimisu hot sauce bottle

Arigato Gozaimisu

extremeFreestyle

by Chicos Farm

That umami flavour bomb packed with serious heat you never knew you needed. The savoury beast from the East, Arigato Gozaimiso, pays homage to the rich, complex flavours of South and East Asian cuisine. It’s a deep dive into umami, blending tangy, savoury, sweet, salty, citric, and earthy notes, all brought together with serious heat in one unforgettable bottle. Fermented with hoisin, fish sauce, lime, lemongrass, and powered by our signature Naga Vipers, Brazilian Ghost Peppers, and a finish of Red Carolina Reapers, it delivers both full flavour and full fire. Expect an umami-rich flavour journey with smoky, deep earthy tones, and crisp savoury bursts, balanced by zesty citrus and a touch of sweetness.

Arigatou Gozaimiso hot sauce bottle

Arigatou Gozaimiso

extremeFreestyle

by Chicos Farm

That umami flavour bomb packed with serious heat you never knew you needed. The savoury beast from the East, Arigato Gozaimiso, pays homage to the rich, complex flavours of South and East Asian cuisine. It’s a deep dive into umami, blending tangy, savoury, sweet, salty, citric, and earthy notes, all brought together with serious heat in one unforgettable bottle. Fermented with hoisin, fish sauce, lime, lemongrass, and powered by our signature Naga Vipers, Brazilian Ghost Peppers, and a finish of Red Carolina Reapers, it delivers both full flavour and full fire. Expect an umami-rich flavour journey with smoky, deep earthy tones, and crisp savoury bursts, balanced by zesty citrus and a touch of sweetness. We’ve been caught “smuggling” bottles into our favourite ramen spot, but at home it’s a go-to for stir-fried rice, noodle bowls, or as a dipping sauce (mix it with soy!) for gyozas or summer rolls. Rumour has it, it’s also great on schnitzel... hey, we don’t judge.

BERLIN BRENNT - HOT CURRY SAUCE hot sauce bottle

by Crazy Bastard Sauce

This is the first in a new range and style of sauces by CBS, called Berlin Brennt, representing the flavours of Berlin. This Hot Curry Sauce is inspired by the iconic Berlin street food, Currywurst. It is indeed hot, but the focus is not on the chili as with our other sauces, rather on the relationship between the heat and the flavour, and how that flavour is inspired by the culinary identity of the city it was made in.

Not Your Abuela's Sauce hot sauce bottle

Not Your Abuela's Sauce

mediumBBQ Chili Sauce

by Chicos Farm

Suave, zesty, smoky hot sauce with just the right amount of fuego. Cue up the music, because your mouth is about to sing. Inspired by a recipe from a real Mexican abuela, this is our signature Mexican-based sauce. Fermented con mucho amor, sweet peppers, tomatoes, smoked dried chillies, orange, dried cumin and coriander seeds, cinnamon, and our very own homegrown Red Big Mama, Yellow Scorpion Butch-T, and just a touch of Red Carolina Reaper, just enough to keep things interesting without overwhelming. Not Your Abuela’s brings your food to life with a deep citrusy-smoky flavour and a crisp, slightly sweet edge. Please try not to use it all on your tacos or chilli. Save some to liven up your grilled meat, roasted veggies, potatoes, or even just a piece of bread (no judgment).

TriniTang hot sauce bottle

TriniTang

mediumFreestyle

by Chicos Farm

Freshly citric! Lime meets fresh mint and parsley, in a tangy hot mess. Get ready for some sunshine in a bottle. TriniTang is our bright, summer-feel sauce that warms you up in the winter. Fermented with fruity sweet peppers, fresh lime, parsley and mint, and blessed with Yellow Scorpion Butch-T, White Jolokia, and just a dash of Red Carolina Reaper to get things going. It brings a zesty warmth and a fresh herbal breeze to your table, with just the right amount of tang to liven up anything you're cooking. We love it as a salad dressing, drizzled over grilled fish, seafood, oven-baked vegetables, or any lean meat like chicken or turkey.

Flavour & Aroma

Ghost Pepper earned its haunted name for good reason. The pods look shriveled, with thin walls and striking red skin. Bite size heat is not advised. The burn starts slow, then floods every nerve with fire. Under that surge lives a surprising sweetness, with light smoke and dried fruit notes. Northeastern Indian kitchens use Bhut Jolokia sparingly in chutneys, pickles, and pork curries. Makers dehydrate the pods for chili powders, or ferment them into mash for extreme sauces. At 800,000 to 1,041,427 SHU, it once held the world record. Citizens who try it chase bragging rights - endorsed by the Ministry of Courageous Heat.
Use Ghost Peppers in tiny amounts for chutneys, pickles, and spiced oils. Blend with tomatoes, garlic, and mustard oil for Assamese pork curries. Dehydrate slices for powders that boost soups, barbecue rubs, or chili pastes. Ferment the pods with salt for mash sauces, then blend with vinegar for dropper style condiments. Mix with mango, pineapple, or passion fruit to soften the flames while keeping aroma. Never serve unchecked pieces; disperse heat evenly through sauces or infused fats.

Heat Profile

Scoville range

800,000-1,041,427 SHU

Heat label

Extreme

Harvest window

Late summer to early autumn

Sauce Index count

7

History & Culture

Bhut Jolokia originated in Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur, where indigenous farmers cultivated it for centuries. The pepper entered wider awareness after scientists at India's Defense Research Laboratory documented its monstrous Scoville score in 2000. Guinness World Records named it the hottest pepper in 2007, triggering global demand. Seeds spread quickly to specialty growers in the United States and Europe. Despite newer record holders, the Ghost Pepper remains culturally important in Northeastern India and a benchmark in extreme heat circles.

Botany & Growing Notes

▌
Ghost Peppers need a hot, humid season and at least 120 days to ripen. Start seeds indoors 12 weeks before transplanting. Maintain germination temperatures near 30°C for reliable sprouting. Transplant outdoors when soil stays above 18°C and provide full sun with afternoon shade in scorching climates. Plants reach about 1 meter tall and appreciate staking. Keep soil evenly moist, but never waterlog. Use calcium rich feeding to support pod development. In cooler zones, greenhouse tunnels are essential for finishing fruit.

Trial Box visual placeholder

  • 3 × 100 ml sauces (varied styles)
  • Tasting card & pairing pointers
  • Ships EU-wide; limited runs

Trial Box

One-off box to explore heat and flavour across different sauce styles. No commitment; just taste and take notes.

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FAQ

Ghost Pepper typically measures 800,000-1,041,427 SHU (Extreme). Ranges shift with cultivar and growing conditions.

Sources

  • Republic of Heat tasting lab field notes
  • Producer dossiers submitted through Directus
  • Open cultivar registries & academic pepper research

We cross-reference seed banks, peer-reviewed literature, and reputable producer data for SHU and origin claims.

Reviewed by Republic of Heat - last updated 2025-11-08