Habanero: The Complete Guide (100K–350K SHU)
100K–350K SHU · fruity and citrusy · Mexico
70x hotter than a jalapeño
Quick Facts
Heat & Flavor Profile
The Habanero registers 100K–350K Scoville Heat Units (SHU), placing it in the Extra-Hot tier (100K–1M SHU). That makes it roughly 70x hotter than a jalapeño.
Flavor notes: fruity and citrusy.
Substitutes for Habanero
Closest match: Scotch Bonnet. These peppers share a similar heat range or flavor profile and work well as substitutes in most recipes.
Habanero vs. Other Peppers
See how the Habanero stacks up in these detailed side-by-side comparisons.
Habanero vs Jalapeño
Habanero vs Scotch Bonnet
Ghost Pepper vs Habanero
Carolina Reaper vs Habanero
Habanero vs Thai Chili
Data from USDA FoodData Central, the Chile Pepper Institute at NMSU, and USDA Agricultural Research Service. Species classification: C. chinense — based on published botanical taxonomy.