Pepper encyclopedia
Every pepper. Every heat level. Every use.
Scoville ratings, flavor profiles, culinary uses, and the story behind each pepper — from a gentle jalapeño to the Carolina Reaper.
The heat scale
2,500–30,000 SHU
mexico
3K–8K SHUJalapeño
Also: jalapeño pepper, chipotle when smoked
Grassy, bright, and mildly vegetal with a clean, manageable heat.
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mexico
10K–23K SHUSerrano
Also: serrano pepper, serrano chile
Bright, crisp, and grassy with a sharper heat than jalapeño.
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mexico
3K–8K SHUChipotle
Also: chipotle pepper, chipotle en adobo
Deep, woody smoke with a moderate heat and a dried fruit complexity.
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southeast asia
4K–8K SHUGochugaru
Also: Korean chili flakes, Korean red pepper
Smoky, sweet, and mildly fruity with a gentle warmth — the defining flavor of Korean cuisine.
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30,000–100,000 SHU
south america
30K–50K SHUCayenne
Also: cayenne pepper, red pepper
Dry, earthy heat with minimal fruit — the backbone of powdered chili and hot sauce.
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southeast asia
50K–100K SHUThai Bird's Eye
Also: bird chili, prik kee noo
Sharp, bright heat with a clean finish and very little fruit character.
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africa
50K–175K SHUPiri Piri
Also: peri peri, African bird's eye
Citrusy, bright heat with a slight sweetness and a lingering warm finish.
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europe
25K–40K SHUCalabrian Chili
Also: Calabrian pepper, peperoncino
Rich, oily, slightly smoky heat with a fruity depth that's unique among European peppers.
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south america
30K–50K SHUAjí Amarillo
Also: aji amarillo pepper, yellow chile
Uniquely tropical and fruity — passion fruit and mango notes — with a clean, vibrant heat.
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100,000–500,000 SHU
south america
100K–350K SHUHabanero
Also: habanero pepper, red savina habanero
Intensely fruity and floral with a fast, aggressive heat that builds quickly.
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caribbean
100K–350K SHUScotch Bonnet
Also: scotch bonnet pepper, bonney pepper
Sweet, fruity, and floral with a deep Caribbean heat that's rounder than habanero.
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500,000–1.5M SHU
1.5M+ SHU
north america
1.4M–2.2M SHUCarolina Reaper
Also: HP22B, reaper pepper
Fruity, sweet entry followed by the most intense sustained heat of any widely available pepper.
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caribbean
1.2M–2.0M SHUTrinidad Moruga Scorpion
Also: moruga scorpion, Moruga blend
Fruity sweetness that vanishes instantly as one of the most sustained, intense heats in existence takes over.
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15
Peppers documented
6
Heat tiers
8
Origins worldwide