Trinidad Moruga scorpion explained

Trinidad Moruga scorpion
Breeder:	Wahid Ogeer
Origin:	Moruga, Trinidad and Tobago
Species:	Capsicum chinense
Module:	Embed: yes Heat: Exceptionally hot Scoville: 1,207,764 average

The Trinidad Moruga scorpion (a cultivar of Capsicum chinense) is a chili pepper native to the village of Moruga, Trinidad and Tobago. In 2012, New Mexico State University's Chile Pepper Institute identified the Trinidad Moruga scorpion as the hottest chili pepper at that time, with heat of 1.2 million Scoville heat units (SHUs).^[1]

By 2017 according to Guinness World Records, the hottest pepper was the Carolina Reaper, with 1.6 million SHU.^[2]

Overview

The yellow cultivar of the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion was created by Wahid Ogeer of Trinidad.^{[3] [4]}

Paul Bosland, a chili pepper expert and director of the Chile Pepper Institute, said, "You take a bite. It doesn't seem so bad, and then it builds and it builds and it builds. So it is quite nasty."^[5]

Aside from the heat, the Trinidad Moruga scorpion has a tender fruit-like flavor, which makes it a sweet-hot combination.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: NMSU's Chile Pepper Institute names the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion hottest pepper on earth. 2012-02-13. Justin Bannister. 2013-11-26.
2. Web site: Hottest chilli pepper. 2017-08-11. Guinness World Records. 2018-06-08.
3. Web site: Cut out the middleman, help people earn $$. The Trinidad Guardian. Charles Kong Soo. February 14, 2016. February 14, 2016.
4. Book: Caz Hildebrand. An Anarchy of Chilies. 2018. Thames & Hudson. 978-0-500-02183-5.
5. Web site: Chile experts: Trinidad Moruga Scorpion is hottest. Associated Press. Susan Montoya Bryan. February 15, 2012. November 26, 2013.
6. Web site: Chile Pepper Institute studies what's hot . USA Today . Your life . Monika . Joshi . 2012-03-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120314210249/http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/story/2012-03-11/Chile-Pepper-Institute-studies-whats-hot/53490214/1 . dead . 2012-03-14.