Sat, 02 May 2026 22:09:40 +0000

This Habanero’s Scoville Rating Shocked Me—It’s Hotter Than You Think When you see a habanero pepper listed with a Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) rating, most people assume these fiery hot peppers are some of the hottest out there. But one recent habanero’s Scoville reading stunned even seasoned spice lovers—it’s hotter than anyone expected. ## Why the Habánero Is Already Fiery, But This One Went Off the Charts The habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense) traditionally scores between 100,000 and 350,000 SHU on the Scoville scale. That’s intense heat—definitely not for the faint of heart. But last year, a rare variety hit grocery stores with a shocking 585,000 SHU—breaking all expectations. This isn’t just extra spicy; it’s off the scale in how aggressive its chili heat burns.