World record sought for Trinidad Scorpion Butch T chili

Reuters ^ | Sun Apr 24 | Pauline Askin

[LeoWindhorse]

SYDNEY : Beware, Naga Viper. Your reign as the world's hottest chili pepper may be coming to a close.

A group of Australians is seeking world record status for a new variety of chili, a bright red pepper so potent that processing it for eating requires gas masks and protective chemical warfare-like clothing.

The "Trinidad Scorpion Butch T" chili, a mere 2.5 cm (1 inch) long, comes it at a fiery 1.46 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU) per chili, according to testing by Melbourne firm EML Chemical == taking it well past the Naga Viper British Chili, the current Guinness record-holder at 1.38 million SHU.

By comparison, a jalapeno pepper contains anywhere from 2,500 to 8,000 SHU.

"I had hallucinations, I had to lie down, I couldn't walk for 20 minutes, dizzy," said Marcel de Wit, one of a group of men who developed and grew the incendiary vegetable, about eating a raw Trinidad Scorpion Butch T.

[LeoWindhorse]

forget waterboarding ! THIS is a perfect tool for enhanced interrogations of 'detainees'

[Aliska]

For sure. I can't tolerate the hot ones other than an occasional drop or two of tobasco sauce or just a tad in chili as I do like it to have just a little kick.

I use the green chilies, ten or twelve, like a lot in my chili, and I have to put on latex gloves and seed them. The seeds are too hot for me and burn my skin everywhere they touch.

I do not understand this infatuation with red hot peppers.

[SIDENET]

comes it at a fiery 1.46 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU) per chili

That's gotta feel wonderful coming out the next day. YIKES.

[ransomnote]

Wonder if I saw Homer Simpson eat one of these in an episode featuring the ‘world record’ holding chili - it had striped ‘warning coloration’ and rattled like a rattlesnake...am I close?

[LukeL]

It is all about the endorphin rush. Much like how it can feel good to work a sore muscle, scratch an open wound etc. It hurts but the mild euphoria you get afterward is the reward.

On a side note the real reason chilies are hot is to prevent mammals from eating them, birds on the other hand are immune to the heat and when they pick at them they throw the seeds around and help the plant to reproduce.

[pandoraou812]

Hot ping!

[LeoWindhorse]

Google : Trinidad Scorpion Butch T” chili

View: Images

[ComputerGuy]

I used to have a mynah bird. Thai Dragon peppers were among his favorite foods.

[LeoWindhorse]

http://thechillifactory.com/

http://www.thehippyseedcompany.com/

[Hunton Peck]

It's an achievement of real science (Warning: this link goes to a video in Australian without subtitles, dubbing or transcription).

[Tainan]

Lovely looking...like strawberries! Trinidad Scorpion Butch T” chili

[Hunton Peck]

The "Trinidad Scorpion Butch T" chili, a mere 2.5 cm (1 inch) long, comes it at a fiery 1.46 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU) per chili....

There's still room for improvement; pure capsaicin is 16,000,000 Scovilles.

[Ronin]

I love a good hot chili con carne, but there are limits. If the hot chili spice overpowers the flavor of the meat, beans and other spices, what’s the point?

[Aliska]

I thought it was a macho thing but figured it had to be more than that. Well, I'll have to get my euphoria on something else.

That's interesting about mammals and birds. Amazing some of the factoids I've picked up here :-).

I do want to find a spot to grow some bell peppers this summer will try to find some plants this time rather than start from seed because it's getting too late. I'm crazy about both red and green peppers, and they are so expensive at the store. Stuffed peppers. Yum.

[Aliska]

That guy sure knows how to garden. Nice healthy plants and lot of mulch. I'm not sure what the purpose of the plastic barriers are.

Cute little buggers, aren't they?

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[LeoWindhorse]

that’s weed matt , weed control under the rows of plants

[Tainan]

Aliska...watch these tasters...hilarious...and somewhat touching...LOL Butch T Chili tasters

[SideoutFred]

Reminds me of the scene in Dumb and Dumber when the guy eats the chilis and has an attack to his ulcer

[gr8eman]

Exactly, it should be about FLAVOR. The best hot chilis and curries do not burn twice!