The Pepper Encyclopedia
Browse 219+ pepper profiles by heat, flavor, origin, and kitchen use.
Infinity Chili
The first time I tasted an Infinity Chili, I made the rookie mistake of treating it like a habanero - small bite, chew…
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The Science of Spice
Pepper heat is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), a scale tied to capsaicin concentration and modern lab testing.
Heat still varies by soil, climate, plant stress, and ripeness, so each profile uses practical ranges instead of a single fixed number.
Heat Tier Quick-Nav
Apollo Pepper
USA
Pepper X
USA
Dragon's Breath
United Kingdom
Carolina Reaper
USA
Komodo Dragon Pepper
England
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion
Trinidad
Chocolate Bhutlah
USA
7 Pot Douglah
Trinidad and Tobago
7 Pot Primo
Louisiana, USA
Dorset Naga
United Kingdom
7 Pot Katie
United Kingdom
Naga Morich
Bangladesh / Northeast India
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T
Trinidad
Naga Viper
England
7 Pot Brain Strain
USA
7 Pot Barrackpore
Trinidad
7 Pot Red Giant
Trinidad
7 Pot Jonah
Trinidad
7 Pot Yellow
Trinidad
Bedfordshire Super Naga
United Kingdom
Infinity Chili
England
Ghost Pepper
India
Bhut Jolokia Chocolate
India
Bhut Jolokia Yellow
India
Jay's Peach Ghost Scorpion
Pennsylvania, USA
7 Pot White
Trinidad
Bhut Jolokia White
India
Nagabon
USA
Red Savina Habanero
USA
Chocolate Habanero
Caribbean
Caribbean Red Habanero
Caribbean
Fatalii
Central Africa
Hot Paper Lantern Pepper
Unknown origin
Habanero
Mexico
Scotch Bonnet
Caribbean
Madame Jeanette
Suriname
White Habanero
Mexico
Aji Chombo
Panama
Wiri Wiri
Guyana
Chocolate Scotch Bonnet
Caribbean
Yellow Scotch Bonnet
Unknown origin
Chocolate Scotch Bonnet
Caribbean
Orange Habanero
Mexico
Datil Pepper
USA
Congo Trinidad
Trinidad
Pimenta de Neyde
Brazil
Jamaican Hot Chocolate
Jamaica
Peri Peri
Africa
Piri Piri Pepper
Mozambique / Southern Africa
Charleston Hot
USA
Sugar Rush Peach
Wales, United Kingdom
Rocoto
Peru
Malagueta
Brazil
Thai Dragon
Thailand
Bird's Eye Chili
Mexico, Central America, or South America; now grown in South and Southeast Asia
Thai Chili
Thailand
Chiltepin
Mexico
Siling Labuyo
Philippines
Cabe Rawit
Indonesia
Prik Jinda
Thailand
Kanthari Chili
India
Teja Chili
India
Sugar Rush Stripey
USA
Prik Kee Noo
Thailand
Aji Cito
Peru
Malagueta Pepper
Brazil
Prairie Fire
USA
Tien Tsin
China
Yatsufusa Pepper
Japan
Dundicut Pepper
Pakistan
Piquin Pepper
Mexico
Cayenne Pepper
French Guiana
Tabasco Pepper
Mexico
Aji Amarillo
Peru
Facing Heaven Pepper
China
Aji Limo
Peru
Aji Charapita
Peruvian Amazon
Aji Cristal
Chile
Santaka Pepper
Japan
Reshampatti Chili
India
Goat Horn Pepper
Southeast Asia / disputed
Buena Mulata
USA
NuMex Twilight
USA
Aurora Pepper
Mexico
Aji Mirasol
Peru
Aji Omnicolor
Peru
Red Pepper Flakes
Global
Guntur Chili
India
Calabrian Chili
Calabria, Italy
Guntur Sannam
Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Lemon Drop
Peru
Bishop's Crown
Barbados
De Arbol
Mexico
Manzano Pepper
Mexico
Jwala Pepper
India
Japones Pepper
Japan
Peperoncino
Italy
Sanam Chili
India
Fish Pepper
USA
Black Pearl Pepper
USA
Chinese 5 Color
China
Togarashi Pepper
Japan / East Asia culinary usage
Bulgarian Carrot Pepper
Bulgaria
Bolivian Rainbow Pepper
Bolivia
Hinkelhatz Pepper
USA
Aji Colorado
Unknown origin
Aji Pineapple
Peru
Inca Red Drop Pepper
Peru
Criolla Sella Pepper
Unknown origin
Count Dracula Pepper
Unknown
Royal Black Pepper
Unknown
Little Elf Pepper
Unknown
Ho Chi Minh Hot Pepper
Vietnamese seed line via Minnesota
Pasilla de Oaxaca
Mexico
Serrano Pepper
Mexico
Peter Pepper
USA
Cheongyang Pepper
South Korea
Sport Pepper
Mexico
Byadgi Chili
India
Hungarian Wax
Hungary
Hungarian Hot Wax
Hungary
Gochugaru
Korea
Aleppo Pepper
Syria
Urfa Biber
Turkey
Isot Pepper
Turkey
Fresno Pepper
USA
Morita Pepper
Mexico
Korean Green Pepper
Korea
Lumbre Pepper
New Mexico, USA
Gochugaru Flakes
Korea
Black Hungarian Pepper
Hungary
NuMex Heritage Big Jim
New Mexico, USA
Maras Pepper
Turkey
Puya Pepper
Mexico
Jalapeño
Mexico
Chipotle
Mexico
New Mexico Chile
New Mexico, USA
Hatch Chile
USA
Rezha Macedonian
North Macedonia
Red Jalapeño
Mexico
Purple Jalapeño
Mexico
Pretty in Purple Pepper
USA
Sandia Pepper
New Mexico, USA
Chimayo Pepper
USA
Cascabella Pepper
Mexico
Jalafuego Pepper
Mexico
Mirasol Pepper
Mexico
Costeño Pepper
Mexico
Guajillo Pepper
Mexico
Sangria Pepper
USA
Cherry Bomb Pepper
United States
Cowhorn Pepper
USA
NuMex Centennial Pepper
USA
Espelette Pepper
France
Cajun Belle
USA
Cascabel Pepper
Mexico
Mulato Pepper
Mexico
NuMex Big Jim
USA
Numex Easter
USA
Pasilla Pepper
Mexico
Padrón Pepper
Spain
Anaheim Pepper
USA
Rocotillo Pepper
Peru / Caribbean
Chilaca Pepper
Mexico
Chilhuacle Pepper
Mexico
Chilaca/Pasilla Relationship
Unknown origin
Kashmiri Chili
India
Ancho Pepper
Mexico
Poblano Pepper
Mexico
Guindilla Pepper
Spain
Aji Panca
Peru
NuMex Heritage 6-4
USA
Cubanelle Pepper
Cuba
Long Hot Italian
Italy
Alma Paprika
Hungary
Paprika Pepper
Hungary
Smoked Paprika (Pimentón)
Spain
Piquillo Pepper
Spain
Ñora Pepper
Spain
Beaver Dam Pepper
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Medusa Pepper
USA
Mexibell Pepper
Unknown origin
Chilly Chili Pepper
USA
Mad Hatter Pepper
United States
NuMex Joe E. Parker
New Mexico, USA
Lombok Pepper
Yogyakarta / Lombok, Indonesia
NuMex Suave Orange
USA
Holy Mole Pepper
Unknown origin
Santa Fe Grande
New Mexico, USA
Peppadew Pepper
South Africa
Mariachi Pepper
Unknown origin
Banana Pepper
Unknown origin
Pepperoncini
Italy
Pimento Pepper
Spain
Cherry Pepper
USA
Corno di Toro
Italy
Jimmy Nardello
Italy
Trinidad Perfume
Trinidad
Aji Dulce
Caribbean and Venezuela
Friggitello
Italy
Lipstick Pepper
USA
Marconi Pepper
Italy
Bullhorn Pepper
Italy
Ramiro Pepper
Spain
Biquinho Pepper
Brazil
Choricero Pepper
Spain
Shishito Pepper
Japan
Sweet Italian Pepper
Italy
Gypsy Pepper
Unknown origin
Carmen Pepper
Italy
Tangerine Dream Pepper
USA
Bell Pepper
Americas
Habanada
USA
Sichuan Pepper
Sichuan, China
Peperone di Senise
Italy
California Wonder Pepper
United States
Melrose Pepper
USA/Italy
Purple Beauty Pepper
S. America
Fushimi Pepper
Japan
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Habanero vs Jalapeno: Roughly 40x the Heat
Habanero vs Serrano: Salsa Heat or Fresh Crunch
Carolina Reaper vs Habanero: A 10x Heat Leap
Cayenne vs Habanero: Powder Dose or Fruit Heat?
Habanero vs Thai Chili: Sauce Fruit or Wok Heat?
Fresno vs Habanero: Mild Red vs Searing Fruit
What's in Each Pepper Profile
Heat & Flavor
Verified Scoville Heat Unit range, detailed flavor notes, and heat character from quick burn to slow build.
Culinary Uses
Best dishes, cooking methods, sauce pairings, dried forms, and how heat changes in the pan.
Growing Info
Days to maturity, plant size, ideal temperature range, and species classification.
Substitutes
Top alternatives ranked by heat similarity and flavor match, with practical conversion ratios.
Pepper Collections
Best for Hot Sauce
Top peppers for creating balanced, flavorful hot sauces.
Peppers for Beginners
Gentle heat, clear flavor, and approachable first-step varieties.
Dried Peppers
Smoke, fruit, and pantry depth from ancho, guajillo, chipotle, and more.
Best for Drying
Thin-walled peppers that dehydrate well and keep strong flavor.
Best for Pickling
Crunchy, reliable peppers that hold up in brine and vinegar.
Ornamental Peppers
Color-first varieties grown for containers, borders, and visual impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hottest pepper in the world?
How are Scoville Heat Units (SHU) measured?
Why do SHU ranges vary so much for the same pepper?
What is the difference between C. annuum, C. chinense, and C. frutescens?
Pepper Guides
Growing tips, cooking techniques, and in-depth guides for pepper enthusiasts.