What is the Scoville Scale?

History

Developed in 1912 by pharmacist Wilbur Scoville, the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) scale measures capsaicin concentration—the compound that makes peppers spicy.

How It's Measured

Original method: Scoville Organoleptic Test (human tasting panel, subjective)

Modern method: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC, precise chemical analysis)

The Complete Scoville Scale

0 SHU: No Heat

• Bell Peppers: Sweet, no capsaicin
• Sweet Pimento: Mild, used in cheese

100-1,000 SHU: Barely Noticeable

• Banana Pepper: 0-500 SHU - Mild, tangy
• Pepperoncini: 100-500 SHU - Pickled pepper flavor
• Pimento: 100-500 SHU - Sweet with hint of heat

1,000-10,000 SHU: Mild Heat

• Poblano: 1,000-2,000 SHU - Earthy, great for cooking
• Anaheim: 500-2,500 SHU - California mild chile
• Jalapeño: 2,500-8,000 SHU - America's favorite pepper
• Fresno: 2,500-10,000 SHU - Fruity jalapeño alternative

10,000-50,000 SHU: Medium Heat

• Serrano: 10,000-25,000 SHU - Bright, crisp heat
• Chipotle (smoked jalapeño): 2,500-8,000 SHU - Smoky depth
• Cayenne: 30,000-50,000 SHU - Classic hot pepper

50,000-100,000 SHU: Hot

• Thai Chili: 50,000-100,000 SHU - Asian cuisine staple
• Tabasco Pepper: 30,000-50,000 SHU - Louisiana classic
• Piri Piri: 50,000-175,000 SHU - African bird's eye chile

100,000-350,000 SHU: Very Hot

• Habanero: 100,000-350,000 SHU - Fruity, tropical heat
• Scotch Bonnet: 100,000-350,000 SHU - Caribbean heat
• Datil: 100,000-300,000 SHU - Florida heritage pepper

350,000-1,000,000 SHU: Extreme Heat

• Red Savina Habanero: 350,000-577,000 SHU - Former record holder
• Chocolate Habanero: 425,000-577,000 SHU - Smoky, rich
• Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper): 800,000-1,000,000+ SHU - First million+ SHU pepper

1,000,000+ SHU: Superhots

• Trinidad Scorpion: 1,200,000-2,000,000 SHU
• 7 Pot Douglah: 923,000-1,853,000 SHU
• Carolina Reaper: 1,400,000-2,200,000 SHU (current record)
• Pepper X: 3,180,000 SHU (Ed Currie's latest, unofficial)

Hot Sauce Scoville Ratings

Mild (0-2,500 SHU)

• Cholula Original: ~1,000 SHU
• Tapatio: ~3,000 SHU
• Valentina: ~900 SHU

Medium (2,500-30,000 SHU)

• Frank's RedHot: ~450 SHU (surprising!)
• Tabasco Original: ~2,500-5,000 SHU
• Crystal Louisiana: ~2,000 SHU
• Weaksauce Tangerine Nightmare: ~15,000-20,000 SHU (4/10 subjective heat)

Hot (30,000-100,000 SHU)

• Yellowbird Habanero: ~50,000-70,000 SHU
• Secret Aardvark: ~40,000-50,000 SHU
• El Yucateco Green: ~5,790 SHU (chile habanero)

Very Hot (100,000+ SHU)

• Da' Bomb Beyond Insanity: ~135,600 SHU
• Mad Dog 357: ~357,000 SHU
• The Last Dab (Hot Ones): ~2,000,000+ SHU

Understanding Heat Perception

Why SHU Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

Perceived heat depends on:

• Dilution: Weaksauce uses tangerines to mellow habanero heat
• Acidity: Vinegar can enhance or reduce heat perception
• Sweetness: Sugar balances capsaicin burn
• Fat content: Creamy sauces feel milder
• Individual tolerance: Regular consumption builds tolerance

How to Build Heat Tolerance

Progressive Training

1. Week 1-2: Start with jalapeño-level (2,500-8,000 SHU)
2. Week 3-4: Move to serrano or cayenne (10,000-50,000 SHU)
3. Month 2: Try habanero-based sauces (100,000+ SHU)
4. Month 3+: Experiment with superhots if desired

Pro Tips

• Eat spicy food regularly (not just once a week)
• Don't skip heat levels—build gradually
• Pair with dairy (milk, yogurt) to soothe burn
• Focus on flavor-forward sauces like Weaksauce

Weaksauce's Approach to Heat

The 4/10 Sweet Spot

Weaksauce Tangerine Nightmare demonstrates that heat should enhance, not dominate:

• Actual SHU: ~15,000-20,000 (habanero-based)
• Perceived heat: 4/10 (thanks to tangerine sweetness)
• Philosophy: Flavor first, heat second
• Result: Daily-use sauce that doesn't punish

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the hottest pepper in the world?

Carolina Reaper holds the official Guinness record at 1.64 million average SHU (peaks over 2.2 million).

Can capsaicin actually hurt you?

Capsaicin triggers pain receptors but doesn't cause tissue damage. Extreme amounts may cause temporary discomfort but aren't dangerous to healthy adults.

Do superhot peppers have any flavor?

Yes! Ghost peppers are fruity, Carolina Reapers have sweetness, but heat often overwhelms subtle flavors.

Why do some sauces feel hotter than their SHU rating?

Concentration matters. A thick sauce delivers more capsaicin per drop than a thin vinegar-based sauce with the same SHU.