Introduction
The Dragon’s Breath chilli pepper is known for its extreme heat, with a Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) rating of 2.48 million. But, while it may be a challenge for spicy food enthusiasts, it can also be a potential danger to human health. In this article, we’ll explore the risks associated with consuming this pepper, how the heat in chilli peppers is measured, and a list of the top 10 hottest peppers in the world.
The Risks of Dragon’s Breath Chilli Pepper
The heat from chilli peppers comes from capsaicin, the compound that triggers the body’s pain receptors. In high concentrations, capsaicin can cause severe burning sensations in the mouth, throat, and stomach, as well as breathing difficulties and even anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.
The Dragon’s Breath chilli pepper has such a high concentration of capsaicin that it has been reported to be capable of killing a person if consumed in large enough quantities. While fatalities from eating this pepper are rare, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks and to handle and consume them with caution.
Understanding the Heat Scale
The Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) is the standard measure of pepper heat. It was first developed by Wilbur Scoville in 1912, and it ranges from 0 (for a bell pepper) to over 2 million (for the Dragon’s Breath chili pepper). The original method of measuring pepper heat involved diluting a pepper extract with sugar water until the heat could no longer be detected by a panel of testers. The number of dilutions required to achieve this point is then used to determine the pepper’s SHU rating.
However, today’s method is more scientific and precise, using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to measure the concentration of capsaicinoids, the compounds responsible for the heat in peppers. The results are then converted into Scoville Heat Units.
It’s also worth noting that the heat from a pepper can vary depending on factors such as growing conditions, ripeness, and even the specific plant it came from.
Top 10 Hottest Peppers in the World
- Dragon’s Breath – 2.48 million SHU
- Carolina Reaper – 1.5-2.2 million SHU
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion – 2 million SHU
- 7 Pot Douglah – 1.8 million SHU
- 7 Pot Primo – 1.4 million SHU
- Naga Viper – 1.3 million SHU
- Trinidad Scorpion “Butch T” – 1.2 million SHU
- Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) – 1 million SHU
- Red Savina Habanero – 577,000 SHU
- Komodo Dragon – 1.4 million SHU
It’s important to note that these are approximate values and the heat level can vary depending on growing conditions and other factors. Also, it’s worth noting that the Dragon’s breath chilli pepper is a relatively new variety and it’s not yet widely available and its heat level may be different in future measurements.
Conclusion
Dragon’s Breath chilli pepper is one of the hottest peppers in the world, with a Scoville Heat Unit rating of 2.48 million. While it may be a challenge for spicy food enthusiasts, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks and to handle and consume them with caution. The heat in chilli peppers is measured using the Scoville Heat Unit, which ranges from 0 to over 2 million. And above is a list of the top 10 hottest peppers in the world, the Dragon’s breath chilli pepper is at the top of the list.