Naga Viper pepper
Encyclopedia
The Naga Viper pepper was the official holder of the Guinness World Records
"World's Hottest Chilli" record as of February 25, 2011. The Naga Viper pepper, with its rating of 1,382,118 Scoville Heat Units
(SHU), beat the previous record holder, the Infinity Chilli
. The pepper's record has been exceeded by the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper
, and verified by Guinness World Records as of March 1, 2011. In comparison, a jalapeño pepper measures between 2,500 and 8,000 SHU on the same scale.
, Cumbria. It is an unstable three-way hybrid produced from the Naga Morich
, the Bhut Jolokia and the Trinidad Scorpion (some of the world's hottest peppers). Due to its hybrid nature, it is unable to produce offspring exactly like the parent due to segregation of allele
s and therefore traits. The Chilli Pepper Company is continuing its work to stabilize the variety.
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
"World's Hottest Chilli" record as of February 25, 2011. The Naga Viper pepper, with its rating of 1,382,118 Scoville Heat Units
Scoville scale
The Scoville scale is a measurement of the spicy heat of a chili pepper. The number of Scoville heat units indicates the amount of capsaicin present. Capsaicin is a chemical compound that stimulates chemoreceptor nerve endings in the skin, especially the mucous membranes.The scale is named after...
(SHU), beat the previous record holder, the Infinity Chilli
Infinity chilli
The Infinity Chilli pepper is a chili pepper created in England by chili breeder Nick Woods of Fire Foods, Grantham, Lincolnshire.For two weeks in February 2011, the Infinity Chilli held the Guinness World Record title for the world's hottest chilli with a Scoville scale rating of 1,067,286...
. The pepper's record has been exceeded by the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper is a chili pepper that has been measured as the world's hottest. The pepper is a particular strain of the Trinidad Scorpion . It is named after Butch Taylor, the owner of a hot sauce company who is responsible for propagating the pepper's seeds...
, and verified by Guinness World Records as of March 1, 2011. In comparison, a jalapeño pepper measures between 2,500 and 8,000 SHU on the same scale.
Origin
The Naga Viper was created in England by chilli farmer Gerald Fowler of The Chilli Pepper Company, based in CarkCark
Cark is a village in Cumbria, England. It lies on the B5278 road to Haverthwaite and is ½ mile north of Flookburgh, 2 miles southwest of Cartmel and 3 miles west of Grange-over-Sands....
, Cumbria. It is an unstable three-way hybrid produced from the Naga Morich
Naga Morich
The Naga Morich is a chilli pepper native to Assam, North India, and Sylhet region of Bangladesh. Known as the sister chilli to the Bhut Jolokia, or Ghost Chilli. The Naga Morich bears many similarities to its sister, but is genetically different...
, the Bhut Jolokia and the Trinidad Scorpion (some of the world's hottest peppers). Due to its hybrid nature, it is unable to produce offspring exactly like the parent due to segregation of allele
Allele
An allele is one of two or more forms of a gene or a genetic locus . "Allel" is an abbreviation of allelomorph. Sometimes, different alleles can result in different observable phenotypic traits, such as different pigmentation...
s and therefore traits. The Chilli Pepper Company is continuing its work to stabilize the variety.