The Bhut Jolokia, aka Naga Jolokia, Naga Morich, Bih Jolokia and even Ghost chili or Ghost Pepper. Whatever you want to call it, it's certainly HOT! Ripe peppers generally measure 3 inches long and about an inch wide.They are normally orange to fiery red in colour, with a rough, crumpled looking flesh.
Registering in at a scorching 1,041.427 units on the SHU (Scoville Heat Unit) Scale, these babies are 200 - 400 times hotter than regular Tabasco sauce, which can range from 2500 - 5000 on the SHU scale.
The SHU scale was created in 1912. It is named after Wilbur Scoville, an American chemist who developed it to test chili pepper pungency.
The scale works by taking an extract of Capsaicin/chili oil, from dried peppers and added in stages, to a sugar/water solution until the heat is barely detected.
The amount of dilution gives its measure on Scovilles scale.
The Bhut occurs naturally in the Assam region of north east India, and also Manipur and Nagaland.
It also grows in Bangladesh's Sylhet region, and also in Sri Lanka, where it is known as Nai Mirris or the Cobra chili.
They are now found growing worldwide thanks to their popularity.
You can buy them online, dried and even get the seeds to grow them for yourself.
Chilies can also be beneficial to your health, they are full of vitamins and the active ingredient Capsacin (which makes chili hot) can also ;
- Protect the Heart
- Help Fight Cancer cells
- Relieve pain
- Fight Inflamation
- Help metabolism
The Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation are actually planning on harnessing the chillies ground up seeds to make non toxic weapons, such as smoke grenades and aerosoles, like a pepper spray. Its been said that one of these would be able to stop a charging Elephant.
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