In 2007, Guinness Book of Records certified Bhut Jolokia chili pepper or more popularly known as Ghost Peppers as the “Hottest Chili in the Word”. Since then this special chili has been stirring up curiosity in the Western world for its vicious bite.
But where did the hottest pepper on the planet originate?
Ghost Pepper is mainly grown in Assam, and in other rural regions of India such as Nagaland and Manipur where they call it Bhut Jolokia. Bhut means “ghost” (or devil) and Jolokia meaning "chili pepper" in Hindi, hence the name Ghost Pepper. This ghostly chili can also be found in some parts of Sri Lanka where it’s called “cobra chili” because of its stinging, almost poisonous taste. This red hot chili pepper is often described by local farmers to be unlike any pepper you’ve encountered before. They say its super duper hot that ingesting it almost gives one a foretaste of death!
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People who have tried ghost pepper say it is like drinking a glass full of acid and razor blades, mixed with the extreme hotness of a thousand jalapenos! The Ghost pepper’s hotness measures 1,001,304 Scoville units (the system used to measure the hotness of a chili pepper), making it up to 300 times hotter than a jalapeno! Ghost Pepper packs extreme heat that adding a mere pinch of this feisty chili to any dish could make it impossible to eat.
But despite the ghastly reputation of Ghost peppers, these fiery fruits are not poisonous. In fact they have great health and medicinal benefits. They are often used to cure stomach diseases, to keep the body cool on hot days, and to boost the immune system by raising the body temperature.
Today more and more adventurous people want to experience this firebomb. To satisfy the typical western curiosity, some chefs are experimenting with the pepper by using it in various dishes like sauces, soups, stews, breads, and ice cream.
Though it seems like restaurants are adding more menu items spiced with Ghost Pepper, the devil’s chili is definitely not for everyone. If you think it’s easy to conquer the “Hottest Chili in the Word”, go ahead—but don’t say we didn’t warn you. Let’s just say that this gastronomical challenge is so tough that it should only be reserved for the bravest few.