Bhut Jolokia, the “ghost pepper”, comes from north-east India. It was the first chilli proven to exceed one million Scoville Heat Units and became the Guinness record holder in 2007.
| Species | Capsicum chinense with C. frutescens genes (natural interspecific hybrid) |
|---|---|
| Heat | mean 1,001,304 SHU (NMSU 2007), 1,019,687 SHU (NMSU 2012), individual plants up to 1,578,548 SHU |
| Origin | north-east India: Assam, Manipur, Nagaland |
| Other names | Naga Jolokia, Bih Jolokia, Naga Mircha, Raja Mircha, Umorok (Manipur) |
| Fruit | elongated, 5–8 cm, undulating, finely wrinkled thin skin, ripening from green to bright red |
| Flavour | intense heat with a fruity aroma |
Name and origin
Jolokia is simply the Assamese word for chilli pepper. According to Paul Bosland of NMSU’s Chile Pepper Institute, “bhut jolokia” translates as “ghost chile”; the University of Florida instead links the name to the Bhutia people. It is grown mainly in the Indian states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland; in Nagaland it is called Naga Mircha or Raja Mircha, “king of chillies”.
Since 2008 “Naga Mircha” has been an Indian Geographical Indication (GI). The application was filed by the Government of Nagaland in 2007, and the production area covers the districts of Kohima, Peren, Mon and Dimapur. In 2021 the first export consignment of fresh pods left Peren district for London.
Which species?
By its flowers and calyx it belongs to C. chinense, like the habanero. A 2007 DNA analysis at NMSU, however, also found markers of C. frutescens, pointing to an interspecific origin. Indian researchers classified it as C. frutescens in 2000; recent studies describe it as a natural hybrid of the two species.
One million Scoville units
The Chile Pepper Institute grew it from Assamese seed and in 2005 measured a mean of 1,001,304 SHU by HPLC – against 248,556 SHU for the then record holder Red Savina and 357,729 SHU for orange habanero in the same trial. Two commercial labs confirmed the result (927,199 and 879,953 SHU). Guinness World Records recognised it as the world’s hottest chilli in 2007, replacing Red Savina. In NMSU’s 2011 trial its mean was 1,019,687 SHU, with individual plants ranging from 279,315 to 1,578,548 SHU – the heat varies a lot.
The record lasted only a few years; today it is outdone by the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, the Carolina Reaper and Pepper X.
In the kitchen and beyond
According to the GI application, in Nagaland it is eaten “at each and every meal” and features in many local dishes. In 2010 India’s defence research organisation DRDO tested “chilli grenades” made with it and planned sprays for self-defence and crowd control.
Related
7 Pot · Trinidad Moruga Scorpion · Carolina Reaper · Scoville scale
Sources
- Bosland P. W., Baral J. B. (2007): ‘Bhut Jolokia’ – The World’s Hottest Known Chile Pepper is a Putative Naturally Occurring Interspecific Hybrid. HortScience 42(2): 222–224. PDF
- Bosland P. W., Coon D., Reeves G. (2012). HortTechnology 22(4): 534–538. doi:10.21273/HORTTECH.22.4.534
- ScienceDaily (2007): ASHS press release on Bhut Jolokia
- Sarpras M. et al. (2016). PLoS ONE. PMC5147997
- Verma et al. (2024). Frontiers in Plant Science. doi:10.3389/fpls.2024.1379637
- IP India, GI Registry: Naga Mircha, application no. 109; application text
- Ministry of Commerce, India: first export of Naga Mircha to London (2021)
- Associated Press via NBC News (2010): report on chilli grenades
- UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Peppers by Scoville units