Scotch Bonnet
Also known as: scotch bonnet pepper, bonney pepper, Caribbean red pepper
The defining pepper of Caribbean cuisine, the scotch bonnet appears in Jamaican jerk, Trinidadian pepper sauce, and West African cooking. Closely related to habanero but with a distinctly sweeter, more complex fruit character.
The full profile
The scotch bonnet is culinarily indispensable in Caribbean cooking in a way no substitute can replicate. The flavor difference from habanero is real — rounder, sweeter, with less of the sharp citrus note. Jamaican jerk marinade without scotch bonnet is technically possible but wrong. Walkerswood and Grace are the definitive commercial expressions of this pepper's potential. If you're cooking Caribbean food seriously, this is the pepper to source.
Flavor
Sweet, fruity, and floral with a deep Caribbean heat that's rounder than habanero.
Color
Red, yellow, or orange
Heat level
Very Hot
100K–350K SHU
100,000–500,000 SHU
Did you know
The scotch bonnet gets its name from its resemblance to a traditional Scottish tam o'shanter hat — the same squat, rounded shape.
How to use it
- —Jamaican jerk marinade and seasoning — essential ingredient
- —Trinidadian pepper sauce with chadon beni
- —West African pepper soup and stews
- —Pickled and fermented Caribbean condiments
- —Rice and pea dishes throughout the Caribbean
Pairs well with
Shop these
Sauces and products that feature scotch bonnet.
Jamaican original
Walkerswood Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce
Authentic scotch bonnet sauce from Jamaica — fruity, bright, and deeply aromatic. The right bottle for jerk chicken, oxtail, rice and peas, and anything Caribbean.
View on Amazon ↗Caribbean pour
Encona Original Hot Pepper Sauce
A fruity, mild-to-medium Caribbean sauce with a tropical edge — approachable enough for everyday use, interesting enough to stand out at a BBQ or seafood dinner.
View on Amazon ↗Bright and fruity
Queen Majesty Scotch Bonnet and Ginger
A sharper, fruitier bottle that cuts through rich seafood, roasted carrots, and fried chicken.
View on Amazon ↗Backyard hero
Jerk Seasoning
A fast flavor base for shrimp skewers, chicken thighs, grilled corn, and any cookout that needs more swagger.
View on Amazon ↗Cook with it
Recipes that use scotch bonnet.
ethiopian · hot
Apr 14, 2026Doro Wot with Extra Berbere Fire
Ethiopia's most beloved chicken stew gets a loving heat boost with extra berbere and fresh scotch bonnet peppers. This version honors the traditional slow-cooking magic while bringing enough fire to make your eyes water—in the best possible way. 135 min · 0 saves.
caribbean · mild
Apr 14, 2026Caribbean Pork and Pineapple Skewers with Scotch Bonnet Glaze
Tender pork shoulder and sweet pineapple chunks come together on the grill, brushed with a gentle scotch bonnet glaze that brings all the Caribbean warmth without setting your mouth on fire. 40 min · 0 saves.
caribbean · mild
Apr 14, 2026Trinidadian Curry Chicken with Scotch Bonnet Heat
Tender chicken pieces simmered in coconut milk with fragrant curry spices and just a whisper of Scotch bonnet heat—Trinidad's answer to comfort food that welcomes everyone to the table. 65 min · 0 saves.