SHU: Scoville Unit of Pungency

SHU: Scoville Heat Unit of Pungency

Named after its creator, American Pharmacist Wilbur Scoville.  In 1912 Scoville developed a subjective assessment derived from Capsaicinoid (Heat) sensitivity of humans.  It is subjective, meaning that it depends on the palate of the humans actually involved in the taste test.  We all know the ability to enjoy or handle chili heat varies human to human, sometimes even moment to moment.

The Scoville Organoleptic Test is a lab procedure that measures the heat level of a chili in SHU.  First the dried pepper is dissolved in alcohol.  The extract is mixed with water and sugar.  The diluted extract is presented to a panel of taste testers.  The extract continues to get diluted until the majority of the tasters can no longer detect the pepper's heat. The SHU is the number of times the extract was diluted.  For example, if it was diluted 5,000 times, it has an SHU of 5,000.

Our chilis are grown by proud Vermont Family Farms.  Dedicated to organic practices and incredible heat our chilis offer the following SHUs:

Carolina Reaper has 2,000,000 SHU

Bhut Jolokia (the strain of our Ghost Peppers) have 900,000 SHU

Our Orange Habañeros have 300,000 SHU

Our Jalapeños are not the hybridized bell pepper tasting "chilis" sold in US supermarkets.  Our farmers grow Hot Jalapeños with 8,000 SHU

Cayennes have 450,000 SHU

Pablanos have 1,400 SHU