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The '''bhut jolokia''' or '''bhoot jolokia''' —also known variously by other names (see below), most commonly '''naga jolokia'''— is a [[chili pepper]] recognized as the hottest in the world. |
The '''bhut jolokia''' or '''bhoot jolokia''' —also known variously by other names (see below), most commonly '''naga jolokia'''— is a [[chili pepper]] recognized as the hottest in the world. |
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In 2007, the [[Guinness World Records]] held it to be the hottest chili, replacing the [[Red Savina pepper|Red Savina]] [[cultivar|strain]] of [[habanero chili]]. It is a naturally occurring [[Hybrid_(biology)# |
In 2007, the [[Guinness World Records]] held it to be the hottest chili, replacing the [[Red Savina pepper|Red Savina]] [[cultivar|strain]] of [[habanero chili]]. It is a naturally occurring [[Hybrid_(biology)#|interspecific hybrid]] originating in the [[Assam]] region of northeastern India.<ref name="bosland">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nmsu.edu/~ucomm/Releases/2007/february/hottest_chile.htm|title=NMSU is home to the world’s hottest chile pepper|accessdate=2007-02-21|year=2007|author=Shaline L. Lopez}}</ref><ref name="Associated Press">{{Cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20058096/|title=‘Ghost chile’ burns away stomach ills - Diet & Nutrition - MSNBC.com:|accessdate=2007-08-05|publisher=Associated Press|year=2007}}</ref> It grows in the Indian states of [[Nagaland]] and [[Manipur]], and the [[Sylhet]] region of [[Bangladesh]]. There has been disagreement whether it is a ''[[Capsicum frutescens]]''<ref name="currscience" /> or a ''[[Capsicum chinense]]''; [[DNA]] tests show it is an interspecies hybrid, mostly ''C. chinense'' with some ''C. frutescens'' genes.<ref name="hortscience">{{cite journal | author=Paul W. Bosland and Jit B. Baral| title=‘Bhut Jolokia’—The World’s Hottest Known Chile Pepper is a Putative Naturally Occurring Interspecific Hybrid| journal=Horticultural Science| year=2007| volume=42| issue=2| page=222–4| url=http://cahe.nmsu.edu/chilepepperinstitute/documents/bhutjolokia.pdf}}</ref> |
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==Etymology of name== |
==Etymology of name== |
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Revision as of 23:23, 18 January 2010
| Bhut Jolokia chili | |
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| Fresh Bhut Jolokia Peppers (whole and cut) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | C. c. cultivar Bhut Jolokia
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| Trinomial name | |
| Capsicum chinense 'Bhut Jolokia | |
The bhut jolokia or bhoot jolokia —also known variously by other names (see below), most commonly naga jolokia— is a chili pepper recognized as the hottest in the world.
In 2007, the Guinness World Records held it to be the hottest chili, replacing the Red Savina strain of habanero chili. It is a naturally occurring interspecific hybrid originating in the Assam region of northeastern India.[1][2] It grows in the Indian states of Nagaland and Manipur, and the Sylhet region of Bangladesh. There has been disagreement whether it is a Capsicum frutescens[3] or a Capsicum chinense; DNA tests show it is an interspecies hybrid, mostly C. chinense with some C. frutescens genes.[4]
Etymology of name
![[icon]](https://anichin-myid.netlify.app/host-https-en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2010) |
The pepper is called different names in different regions. A 2009 paper published in the Asian Agri-History journal coins the English term "Naga king chili" and states that the most common Indian (Assamese) usage is bhoot jolokia, which refers to the chili's large pod size,[5] and gives the alternate common name as bih jolokia (bih means "poison" in Assamese, denoting the plant's heat). The Assamese word "jolokia" means the Capsicum pepper.[4][6] The assertion that bhut means "ghost" is denied by Indian researchers.[5] Another common name, especially in the West, is naga jolokia.[7][8] The possible derivation for "naga" is from the Sanskrit word nāga (king cobra), or the word may refer to Nagaland in north-eastern India, and the Naga people. The chili is also known as naga morich in Bangladesh.[9] Other usages on the subcontinent are saga jolokia, Indian mystery chili, and Indian rough chili,[5][10] while less-documented usages are oo-morok (Manipur) (oo = "tree" or a corruption of bhoot, morok = "chile"), borbih jolokia, nagahari, nagajolokia, naga moresh, and raja mirchi (king of chiles).[attribution needed] Regardless of the nomenclature, they all refer to the same plant.
Scoville rating
| Ghost pepper | |
|---|---|
| Heat | Maximum (SR: 1,041,427) |
In 2000, India's Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) reported a rating of 855,000 units on the Scoville scale,[3] and in 2004 a rating of 1,041,427 units was made using HPLC analysis.[11] For comparison, Tabasco red pepper sauce rates at 2,500-5,000, and pure capsaicin (the chemical responsible for the pungency of pepper plants) rates at 15,000,000–16,000,000 Scoville units. [12]
In 2005, at New Mexico State University Chile Pepper Institute near Las Cruces, New Mexico, regents Professor Paul Bosland found bhut jolokia grown from seed in southern New Mexico to have a Scoville rating of 1,001,304 SHU by HPLC.[1]
In February 2007, Guinness World Records certified the bhut jolokia as the world's hottest chili pepper.[1][13]
The effect of climate on the Scoville rating of bhut jolokia peppers is dramatic. A 2005 study comparing percentage availability of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin in bhut jolokia peppers grown Tezpur (Assam) and Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) showed that the heat of the pepper is decreased by over 50% in Gwalior's more arid climate.[14] Ripe peppers measure 60 to 85 mm (2.4 to 3.3 in) long and 25 to 30 mm (1.0 to 1.2 in) wide with an orange or red color. They are similar in appearance to the habanero pepper, but have a rougher, dented skin – a main characteristic of the bhut jolokia.[15]
Characteristics
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Uses
The pepper is used as a cure for stomach ailments. It is also used as a spice as well as a remedy to summer heat, presumably by inducing perspiration in the consumer.[2] In northeastern India, the peppers are smeared on fences or incorporated in smoke bombs as a safety precaution to keep wild elephants at a distance.[16][17]
In 2009, scientists at India's Defence Research and Development Organisation announced plans to use the chillies in hand grenades, as a less lethal way to control rioters.[18]
References
- ^ a b c Shaline L. Lopez (2007). "NMSU is home to the world's hottest chile pepper". Retrieved 2007-02-21.
- ^ a b "'Ghost chile' burns away stomach ills - Diet & Nutrition - MSNBC.com:". Associated Press. 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
- ^ a b Mathur R; et al. (2000). "The hottest chile variety in India" (PDF). Current Science. 79 (3): 287–8.
{{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in:|author=(help) - ^ a b Paul W. Bosland and Jit B. Baral (2007). "'Bhut Jolokia'—The World's Hottest Known Chile Pepper is a Putative Naturally Occurring Interspecific Hybrid" (PDF). Horticultural Science. 42 (2): 222–4.
- ^ a b c Raktim Ranjan Bhagowati; et al. (2009). "Genetic Variability and Traditional Practices in Naga King Chili Landraces of Nagaland" (pdf). Asian Agri-History. 13 (3): pp. 171–180.
{{cite journal}}:|pages=has extra text (help); Explicit use of et al. in:|author=(help) - ^ "The Hindu News Update Service". www.thehindu.com. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
- ^ "Tiny chilli is hot discovery - Telegraph". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
- ^ "BBC News". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
{{cite web}}: Text "India claims champion chilli" ignored (help); Text "SOUTH ASIA" ignored (help) - ^ "Can't stand the heat - Sunday Life - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk". www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
- ^ "Saga Jolokia: Indian chilli acquires cult following in US- ET Cetera-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times". indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
- ^ "Bih jolokia". 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
- ^ Uhl (1996), op. cit. "The HPLC measures the capsaicinoid(s) in ppm, which can then be converted to Scoville units using a conversion factor of 15, 20 or 30 depending on the capsaicinoid." This would make capsaicin 15,000,000
- ^ "Indian chile world's hottest: Guinness". 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
- ^ Tiwari A; et al. (2005). "Adaptability and production of hottest chile variety under Gwalior climatic conditions" (PDF). Current Science. 88 (10): 1545–6.
{{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in:|author=(help) - ^ Barker, Catherine L. (2007), "Hot Pod: World's Hottest", National Geographic Magazine, vol. 2007, no. May, p. 21
- ^ Hussain, Wasbir (2007-11-20). "World's Hottest Chile Used as Elephant Repellent". National Geographic. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
- ^ "Ghost Chile Scares Off Elephants". National Geographic News website. National Geographic. 2007-11-20. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8119591.stm
