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Use of chillies has exploded in countries like Australia in recent times, due to the culinary influence of the Asian diaspora, and a NSW Central Coast business The Chilli Factory has decided to go one step further to harvest the hottest chilli ever known.
The fiery Trinidad Scorpion Butch T registers 1,463,700 Scoville heat units, placing it ahead of the current leader recognised by Guinness World Records, the Naga Viper, which comes in at 1,382,118. Jalapenos measure about 2500-5000 and the hottest Tabasco is 30,000.
"They're just severe, absolutely severe," says Marcel de Wit, The Chilli Factory co-owner. "No wonder they start making crowd-control grenades now with chillies. It's just wicked."
The chilli is so scorching, that Marcel and his team have to wear protective gear when handling the new variety. "If you don't wear gloves your hands will be pumping heat for two days later," he says.
The chillies primarily end up as a basis for a hot sauce, where the chillies still pack a punch. "We went to Melbourne to cook our first batch of the sauce, the Scorpion Strike, we all had to wear full chemical masks and suit-up with full protection suits and gloves to cook these up." Marcel says. "Imagine, when you start cooking with it - those fumes that come out of the pot."
Top 10 hottest chilli varietal groups with their Scoville unit ratings:
1. Trinidad Scorpion Butch Taylor (1,463,700)
2. Scorpion cultivars and Naga Viper Chilli (1,250,000 to 1,350,000)
3. Chocolate 7-pod and Infinity Chilli (1,200,000 to 1,250,000)
4. 7-pod varieties; Barrackpore, primo, yellow, red (1,100,000 to 1,200,000)
5. The Nagas; Bhut Jolokia, Bih Jolokia, Naga Jolokia, Dorset Naga, Naga Morich (900,000 to 1,100,000)
6. Naga x Habanero crosses; Habanaga, Nagabon (800,000)
7. Red Savina Habanero (577,000)
8. Chocolate Habanero or Caribbean Habanero (250,000 to 350,000)
9. Habaneros and Scotch Bonnets (100,000 to 250,000)
10. Tepins, Tabascos, Birds eyes (<100,000)
