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Ghost pepper

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Naga Bhut Jolokia
Fresh Bhut Jolokia
Heat Exceptionally hot
Scoville scale330,000–1,000,000 SHU

The Naga Bhut Jolokia[1][2] is a chili pepper previously recognized by Guinness World Records as the hottest pepper in the world. The pepper is also known as Naga Jolokia, ghost pepper, ghost chile pepper, and ghost chile.[3][4][5]

The Bhut Jolokia is an interspecific hybrid cultivated in the Nagaland and Assam region of northeastern India and parts of neighbouring Bangladesh.[6][7] It grows in the Indian states of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. It can also be found in rural Sri Lanka where it is known as Nai Mirris (cobra chili). There was initially some confusion and disagreement about whether the Bhut was a Capsicum frutescens[8] or a Capsicum chinense pepper, but DNA tests showed it to be an interspecies hybrid, mostly C. chinense with some C. frutescens genes.[9]

In 2007, Guinness World Records certified the Bhut Jolokia as the world's hottest chili pepper, 400 times hotter than Tabasco sauce; however, it has since been superseded.[10]

Etymology

Peppers grown in 3-gallon pots in the Ghosh Grove, Rockledge, Florida

The pepper is called by different names in different regions. North of the Brahmaputra, it is widely called Bhut Jolokia or Bhoot Jolokia, literally translating to 'Ghost Chilli' in Assamese ("Bhoot" means ghost in most other Sanskritic languages, such as Hindi and Gujarati as well). Some believe that "Bhut" might imply "from Bhutan" but that is incorrect as the translation of "from Bhutan" in Assamese is "Bhuitiya" not "Bhut". Furthermore, this pepper has never occurred naturally in the temperate climate of Bhutan. On the southern bank of the river Brahmaputra, this chili becomes Naga jolokia, believed to be named after the ferocious Naga warriors inhabiting the plains & hills of Nagaland.[11] Further complicating matters, a 2009 paper, published in the Asian Agri-History journal, coined the English term "Naga king chili" which refers to the chili's large pod size.[12][13] It also stated that the most common Indian (Assamese) usage is bhoot jolokia and gives the alternate common name as Bih Jolokia (bih means "poison" in Assamese, denoting the plant's heat). The Assamese word "jolokia" simply means the Capsicum pepper. Other usages on the subcontinent are Saga Jolokia, Indian mystery chili, and Indian rough chili (after the chili's rough skin).[12][14] It has also been called the Tezpur chili after the Assamese city of Tezpur.[11] In Manipur, the chili is called umorok or oo-morok (oo = "tree", morok = "chili").[15]

Scoville rating

In 2000, India's Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) reported a rating of 855,000 heat units (SHU) on the Scoville scale,[8] and in 2004 a rating of 1,041,427 units was made using HPLC analysis.[16] For comparison, Tabasco red pepper sauce rates at 2,500–5,000, and pure capsaicin (the chemical responsible for the piquance of pepper plants) rates at 16,000,000 SHU.

In 2005, at New Mexico State University Chile Pepper Institute near Las Cruces, New Mexico,[17] regents Professor Paul Bosland found Bhut Jolokia grown from seed in southern New Mexico to have a Scoville rating of 1,001,304 SHU by HPLC.[6]

The effect of climate on the Scoville rating of Bhut Jolokia peppers is dramatic. A 2005 study comparing percentage availability of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin in Bhut Jolokia peppers grown in Tezpur (Assam) and Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), India showed that the heat of the pepper is decreased by over 50% in Gwalior's more arid climate.[18] Elsewhere in India, scientists at Manipur University measured Bhut Jolokia's average Scoville rating by HPLC at only 329,100 SHU.[15]

Characteristics

Ripe peppers measure 60 to 85 mm (2.4 to 3.3 in) long and 25 to 30 mm (1.0 to 1.2 in) wide with a red, yellow, orange or chocolate color. The unselected strain of Bhut Jolokia from India is an extremely variable plant, with a wide range in fruit sizes and amount of fruit production per plant, and offers a huge potential for developing much better strains through selection in the future. Bhut Jolokia pods are unique among peppers, with their characteristic shape, and very thin skin.[19] However, for the red fruit variety, there are two different fruit types, the rough, dented fruit and the smooth fruit. The images on this page show the smooth fruit form. The rough fruit plants are taller, with more fragile branches, and the smooth fruit plants yields more fruit, and is a more compact plant with sturdier branches.[20]

Plant height 45–120 cm
Stem color Green
Leaf color Green
Leaf length 10.65–14.25 cm
Leaf width 5.4–7.5 cm
Pedicels per axil 2
Corolla color Yellow green
Anther color Pale blue
Annular constriction Present below calyx
Fruit color at maturity Red is the most common, with orange, yellow and chocolate as rarer varieties
Fruit shape Sub-conical to conical
Fruit length 5.95–8.54 cm
Fruit width at shoulder 2.5–2.95 cm
Fruit weight 6.95–8.97 g
Fruit surface Rough, uneven or smooth
Seed color Light tan
1000 seed weight 4.1–5.2 g
Seeds per fruit 19–35
Hypocotyl color Green
Cotyledonous leaf shape Deltoid

Uses

Bhut Jolokia is used as a food and a spice as well as a remedy to summer heat, presumably by inducing perspiration in the consumer.[7] In northeastern India, the peppers are smeared on fences or incorporated in smoke bombs as a safety precaution to keep wild elephants at a distance.[21][22]

As a weapon

In 2009, scientists at India's BOOBS Defence Research and Development Organisation announced plans to use the peppers in hand grenades, as a non lethal way to flush out terrorists from their hideouts and to control rioters. It will also be developed into pepper spray as a self defense product.[23][24]

R. B. Srivastava, the director of the Life Sciences Department at the New Delhi headquarters of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (who also led a defense research laboratory in Assam), said bhut jolokia-based aerosol sprays could be used by women as a "safety device", and "civil variants" of chili grenades could be used to control and disperse mobs.[25]

Dorset Naga

Dorset Naga (Capsicum chinensis) is a subspecies of the original Naga, selected from the Bangladeshi varieties of the chili, naga morich.[26]

Annually, since 2005, the heat level of Dorset Naga has been tested, taking samples from different sites, various seasons and states of maturity. The heat level has ranged from 661,451 SHU for green fruit in 2007, up to 1,032,310 SHU for ripe fruit harvested in 2009.[27]

High as the results were, the BBC's Gardeners' World television programme recorded a much higher heat level for Dorset Naga. As part of the 2006 programming, the BBC gardening team ran a trial looking at several chili varieties, including Dorset Naga. Heat levels were tested by Warwick HRI and the Dorset Naga came in at 1,598,227 SHU, one of the hottest heat levels ever recorded for a chili.[26][28]

See also

References

  1. ^ Web.com(india) Pvt. Ltd. (2007-02-18). "Available Resources in Assam". Assamgovt.nic.in. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
  2. ^ "Assam to promote 'Bhut Jalakiya', the hottest chilli of the world". Assam Times. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
  3. ^ "''Ghost Chili'' Scares Off Elephants". News.nationalgeographic.com. Retrieved 2010-04-11.
  4. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LJYeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SIYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6393,9014&dq=ghost-chili&hl=en
  5. ^ Ritter, Peter (2007-02-22). "6,000 Years of Red Hot Chili Peppers". TIME. Retrieved 2010-04-11.
  6. ^ a b Shaline L. Lopez (2007). "NMSU is home to the world's hottest chile pepper". Archived from the original on 2007-02-19. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  7. ^ a b "'Ghost chile' burns away stomach ills - Diet & Nutrition - MSNBC.com:". Associated Press. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
  8. ^ a b Mathur R; et al. (2000). "The hottest chili variety in India" (PDF). Current Science. 79 (3): 287–8. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  9. ^ Paul W. Bosland and Jit B. Baral (2007). "'Bhut Jolokia'—The World's Hottest Known Chile Pepper is a Putative Naturally Occurring Interspecific Hybrid" (PDF). Horticultural Science. 42 (2): 222–4.
  10. ^ Susan Montoya Bryan (February 16, 2012). "Trinidad Moruga Scorpion wins hottest pepper title". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2012-04-12.
  11. ^ a b Dave DeWitt, Dave DeWitt coauthors=Paul W. Bosland (2009). The Complete Chile Pepper Book. Timber Press. p. 158. ISBN 0-88192-920-4.
  12. ^ a b Raktim Ranjan Bhagowati; et al. (2009). "Genetic Variability and Traditional Practices in Naga King Chili Landraces of Nagaland" (PDF). Asian Agri-History. 13 (3): pp. 171–180. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  13. ^ "The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) Northeast 'Hottest' chef gets a taste of hottest jolokia". Calcutta, India: www.telegraphindia.com. 2009-04-10. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  14. ^ Rajghatta, Chidanand (6 September 2009). "Saga Jolokia: Indian chilli acquires cult following in US". The Economic Times. New Dehli, India: The Times Group. Retrieved 24 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ a b SANATOMBI K., G. J. SHARMA (2008). "Capsaicin Content and Pungency of Different Capsicum spp. Cultivars" (PDF). Not. Bot. Hort. Agrobot. Cluj. 36 (2): pp. 89–90. ISSN 1842-4309. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  16. ^ "Bih jolokia". 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
  17. ^ "NMSU: The Chile Pepper Institute - Home". The Chile Pepper Institute. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
  18. ^ Tiwari A; et al. (2005). "Adaptability and production of hottest chili variety under Gwalior climatic conditions" (PDF). Current Science. 88 (10): 1545–6. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  19. ^ Barker, Catherine L. (2007). "Hot Pod: World's Hottest". National Geographic Magazine. Vol. 2007, no. May. p. 21.
  20. ^ Dremann, Craig Carlton. 2011. Redwood City Seed Company, Observations on the variations in the Bhut Jolokia pepper from seed reproduction growouts.
  21. ^ Hussain, Wasbir (2007-11-20). "World's Hottest Chile Used as Elephant Repellent". National Geographic. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  22. ^ "Ghost Chile Scares Off Elephants". National Geographic News website. National Geographic. 2007-11-20. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  23. ^ [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]
  24. ^ "South Asia | India plans hot chilli grenades". BBC News. 2009-06-25. Retrieved 2010-04-11.
  25. ^ Bhaumik, Subir (24 March 2010). "India scientists hail 'multi-purpose' chillis". BBC News. City of Westminster, England: BBC. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  26. ^ a b "Some Like It Hot: Dorset's Ultra-Hot Chillies". Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  27. ^ "Dorset Naga". Dorset Naga. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
  28. ^ "Gardening: 20 October 2006". bbc.co.uk. London: BBC. 20 October 2006. Gardeners' World's hottest chillies. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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