Ghost Pepper

In 2007, Guinness World Records officially recognized the Ghost Pepper, also known as bhut jolokia, as the hottest chili pepper in the world. It was the first chili ever measured above one million Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Today, it rates around 1,041,427 SHU on the standard scale.

The ghost pepper is an Indian Capsicum hybrid that naturally evolved in the northeastern region of India, particularly in Assam. It is an interspecific cross, meaning it is a hybrid of Capsicum chinense and Capsicum frutescens species. This aggressive genetics mix gives the pepper its intense heat profile.

In Northeast Indian cuisine, the fresh or dried ghost pepper is used sparingly to flavor curries, chutneys, and fermented foods. Due to its extreme heat, it is now more commonly dried and ground into potent chili powders. It is heavily utilized in commercial hot sauces to create extreme-heat varieties.

Yes, the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has utilized ghost peppers to develop non-lethal weapons. They created 'chili grenades' filled with ghost pepper powder to immobilize terrorists and disperse violent crowds. The spray from these peppers is so potent it was even tested as an elephant repellent.