Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper
Encyclopedia
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 (which originated in Trinidad and Tobago
). It is named after Butch Taylor, the owner of a hot sauce company who is responsible for propagating the pepper's seeds. The "scorpion" peppers are referred to as such because the pointed end of the pepper is said to resemble a scorpion's stinger.
. Prior to this, the world's hottest pepper was a specimen of the Naga Viper pepper
. A laboratory test conducted in March, 2011 measured a specimen of Trinidad Scorpion Butch T at 1,463,700 Scoville heat units
, making it hotter than the Naga Viper's 1,382,118 Scoville heat units. Hotness of a species of chili pepper can vary by up to a factor of 10 depending on the conditions under which the specimen grew. High-performance liquid chromatography
has limited precision and a margin of error of about 5% of the true value; Scoville units reported with more than two significant figures
should be regarded as for entertainment purposes only and not a scientific assessment of the heat of the pepper.
or skin near the eyes when handling this pepper could cause temporary blindness
. While preparing the Butch T, one should wear a chemical mask
or a body suit to defend against fumes given off in the cooking process.
Chili pepper
Chili pepper is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The term in British English and in Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries is just chilli without pepper.Chili peppers originated in the Americas...
that has been measured as the world's hottest. The pepper is a particular strain of the Trinidad Scorpion (which originated in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
). It is named after Butch Taylor, the owner of a hot sauce company who is responsible for propagating the pepper's seeds. The "scorpion" peppers are referred to as such because the pointed end of the pepper is said to resemble a scorpion's stinger.
World record
The Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper is the hottest pepper in the world, according to Guinness World RecordsGuinness 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...
. Prior to this, the world's hottest pepper was a specimen of the Naga Viper pepper
Naga Viper pepper
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 , beat the previous record holder, the Infinity Chilli...
. A laboratory test conducted in March, 2011 measured a specimen of Trinidad Scorpion Butch T at 1,463,700 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...
, making it hotter than the Naga Viper's 1,382,118 Scoville heat units. Hotness of a species of chili pepper can vary by up to a factor of 10 depending on the conditions under which the specimen grew. High-performance liquid chromatography
High-performance liquid chromatography
High-performance liquid chromatography , HPLC, is a chromatographic technique that can separate a mixture of compounds and is used in biochemistry and analytical chemistry to identify, quantify and purify the individual components of the mixture.HPLC typically utilizes different types of stationary...
has limited precision and a margin of error of about 5% of the true value; Scoville units reported with more than two significant figures
Significant figures
The significant figures of a number are those digits that carry meaning contributing to its precision. This includes all digits except:...
should be regarded as for entertainment purposes only and not a scientific assessment of the heat of the pepper.
Use in food
The Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper is so strong that those who handle it must wear protective gloves. Exposure to the eyeEye
Eyes are organs that detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons. The simplest photoreceptors in conscious vision connect light to movement...
or skin near the eyes when handling this pepper could cause temporary blindness
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
. While preparing the Butch T, one should wear a chemical mask
Mask
A mask is an article normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes...
or a body suit to defend against fumes given off in the cooking process.