Scoville scale: How to measure the heat of chilli correctly

You think you know how hot it is? Think again! Scoville is the secret weapon we use to measure how hard a chilli really hits - from a mild tickle to a pure fire inferno. If you want to know what's behind these numbers and which chillies really make you sweat, buckle up. Here it gets hot!

What is Scoville - meaning and explanation

Scoville - it sounds like an exotic unit of measurement from science, but it's actually the key to a very special world: the world of heat. Because Scoville is the unit of measurement used to measure how hot a chilli or pepper really is. Imagine you're chopping chillies and want to know whether your hot piece is as mild as a gentle summer breeze or hits you like a firestorm - that's exactly what the Scoville scale is for.

The name comes from Wilbur Scoville, an American pharmacologist from the early 20th century, who developed the first method to measure the heat of chillies in 1912. His trick was as simple as it was ingenious: he had test subjects taste a solution diluted with chilli extract and measured how much it had to be diluted for them to barely perceive the heat. The more dilution was required, the hotter the chilli was - and this is how the "Scoville Heat Unit" (SHU), now known as the Scoville value, was created.

Today, heat is usually measured using more modern methods, but the name Scoville has endured as a synonym for heat tint, so the unit says nothing other than how much capsaicin (the chemical compound that gives chillies their heat) is in the chilli - the more, the hotter the experience.

In short: Scoville is your handy heat scale for all chilli fans who want to know how wild the next bite will really be, and believe me, this number can give you a lot of surprises - from a mild tickle to a real fire inferno.

The Scoville scale - how hot is hot?

The Scoville scale is basically a map of spiciness. It shows you where your chilli or pepper stands on the heat scale, from "okay, that's fine" to "fire away!" The higher the number, the more capsaicin - and therefore more pain and pleasure for your taste buds.

To give you a better idea, here is a brief overview of how the scale roughly works:

• 0 to 100 SHU - This is where the mild candidates such as peppers or sweet vegetable chillies lie. Hardly any heat, more of a slight kick.

• 100 to 1,000 SHU - Spiciness is noticeable but still well tolerated, for example Poblano or Anaheim chilli.

• 1.000 to 10,000 SHU - Most common chillies, such as jalapeños, are in this range. A little heat that wakes you up.

• 10.000 to 100,000 SHU - This is where it gets serious: habanero or scotch bonnet chillies really get your mouth burning.

• Over 100,000 SHU - The real hardcore chillies, such as Carolina Reaper or Ghost Pepper, require strong nerves - and perhaps a glass of milk.

The exciting thing is that the scale is not a linear measurement, but rather a heat logic that shows you how intensely you perceive the heat. A jump from 1,000 to 10,000 SHU feels much more intense than you think.

And if you're wondering why peppers appear on the scale at all: heat is measured using the same unit to track differences from mild to hellish, so you can easily compare your favourite chillies - and test your courage.

How many Scovilles does a chilli have - spiciness from paprika to Carolina Reaper

Every chilli fan knows this: you're faced with a selection and ask yourself - how hot is it? The answer is in the Scoville value. I've put together a handy table so that you don't have to poke around in the dark the next time you buy a chilli. From mild to fiery - this is what the heat range looks like:

Chilli variety	Scoville Heat Units (SHU)	Heat level	Short description
Paprika	0 - 100	Very mild	No real heat, rather sweet and crunchy
Jalapeño	3.000 - 8.000	Mild to moderate	Popular classic with a pleasant spiciness
Cayenne	30.000 - 50.000	Medium to hot	A classic in the kitchen, nice and fiery
Habanero	100.000 - 350.000	Very hot	Fruity and explosive - not for wimps
Ghost pepper (Bhut Jolokia)	800.000 - 1.000.000	Extremely hot	One of the hottest chillies in the world
Carolina Reaper	1.400.000 - 2.200.000	World record holder	Officially the hottest chilli - pure lava

As you can see, the range is huge. A jalapeño can be quite a fire for beginners, while the Carolina Reaper is more of a test of courage that not everyone wants to pass. And yes, paprika actually has almost no heat level - perfect if you prefer it mild.

These values also give you a sense of how much capsaicin is in the chilli. The higher the SHU, the more it burns - and the more exciting it gets for real chilli fans.

Pure capsaicin - the pungent supreme discipline

If you thought the hottest chilli was already the absolute bomb, then buckle up: pure capsaicin catapults the topic of heat into a completely different league. Capsaicin is the chemical substance that triggers the heat in every chilli - and in its pure form it is so extremely hot that it can theoretically even be dangerous.

For comparison: a normal jalapeño is somewhere between 3,000 and 8,000 Scoville units, the infamous Carolina Reaper comes in at just under 2 million SHU. But pure capsaicin? That's an incredible 16 million Scoville units, making it the absolute limit of heat that you can imagine - or rather, that you don't want to put in your mouth so easily.

This means that a tiny drop of pure capsaicin can make you feel like you're biting into a red-hot coal, so it's no wonder that it is only used in extremely diluted form in the food world, for example in some hot sauces or as an irritant in pepper spray.

So: if you hear that someone is using pure capsaicin at the next chilli competition, then it's not just for show, but absolute seriousness when it comes to spiciness. And one thing is certain - with so much heat, all boundaries of good taste have long since been broken.

Highest Scoville values and extreme spiciness - from hot to life-threatening?

If you look at the Scoville scale, you'll come across this question at some point: "At what point does spiciness actually become dangerous?" After all, the burning sensation in your mouth is all about fun - but is too much possible?

The fact is: the hottest chillies in the world, such as the Carolina Reaper or the Ghost Pepper, easily climb to over a million Scoville units. This is a firework display for the palate - but not usually a serious danger for the body, as long as you don't overdo it. Our body reacts with tears, sweating and sometimes even slight pain - a kind of warning system to prevent us from absorbing too much capsaicin.

But beware: extremely spicy stuff can cause nausea, stomach cramps or even breathing problems in some people, and pure capsaicin extracts are so strong that they are used in laboratories as irritants and are definitely not for normal consumption.

A small but important rule of thumb: spiciness is fun, but only if you enjoy it and give your body time. If you take too much too quickly, you risk not only unpleasant consequences, but also a rather unpleasant memory.

So: The highest Scoville number is impressive - but respect for the heat never hurts. Especially if you are trying really hot chillies for the first time, try them slowly and always have a glass of milk or yoghurt to hand.

Conclusion - Scoville: your compass in the jungle of spiciness

Scoville is more than just a number - it's the best friend of every chilli lover who wants to know how wild the fire on their tongue really is. From the harmless paprika to the hellishly hot Carolina Reaper, the Scoville scale shows you exactly what to expect. Spiciness is not just pain, but also pure passion, adventure and a little test of courage for your sense of taste.

Whether you are more of a gentle connoisseur or like to go all out - with the knowledge of Scoville, you can choose your chilli carefully and avoid surprises. And don't worry: it always takes a little courage, but also the right amount of respect for spiciness.

So, whether you're just starting out in the world of chillies or have been doing it for a long time, the Scoville scale is your reliable compass. Try it out, have fun - and remember: sometimes less heat is more pleasure.