9+ varieties · Updated Feb 2026
The Pepper
Encyclopedia
Scoville ratings, flavor profiles, growing guides, and side-by-side comparisons — sourced from USDA data and real growing experience.
406+
Pepper Varieties
9+
Comparisons
7
Growing & Cooking Guides
5
Heat Levels Mapped
Explore by Heat
The Scoville Heat Scale
From sweet bell peppers to the world-record Pepper X — find your heat level.
Mild
Little to no heat — perfect for everyday cooking and raw eating.
389 varieties
→
Medium
Noticeable warmth that most people enjoy. The sweet spot for home cooks.
4 varieties
→
Hot
Significant heat that builds and lingers. For dedicated spice lovers.
3 varieties
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Profiles
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Featured Peppers
From the database — our most searched and most referenced varieties.
Super-Hot
Pepper X
fruity
earthy
C. chinense
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Super-Hot
Carolina Reaper
fruity
sweet
C. chinense
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Super-Hot
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion
fruity
floral
C. chinense
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Super-Hot
7 Pot Douglah
nutty
earthy
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Super-Hot
Ghost Pepper
smoky
sweet
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Extra-Hot
Fatalii
citrusy
fruity
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Extra-Hot
Habanero
fruity
citrusy
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Extra-Hot
Scotch Bonnet
fruity
tropical
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Extra-Hot
Bird's Eye Chili
peppery
bright
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Head-to-Head
View all comparisons →
Popular Comparisons
Habanero vs Jalapeño
Habaneros deliver 12-140x more heat than jalapeños with a completely different fruity profile.
Habanero vs Scotch Bonnet
Similar heat but different culinary roles — habaneros for Mexican food, Scotch Bonnets for Caribbean.
Ghost Pepper vs Habanero
The Ghost Pepper roughly triples the habanero's heat with a distinctive slow-building smoky burn.
Carolina Reaper vs Ghost Pepper
Both super-hots, but the Reaper doubles the Ghost Pepper's heat with sweeter, fruitier notes.
Learn
Pepper Guides
Everything we've learned from growing, cooking, and eating peppers — written as clearly as we can.
🧪
What Is Capsaicin?
The compound behind the burn
🧊
How to Stop Pepper Burn
Proven remedies for capsaicin
☀
Fresh vs Dried Peppers
How drying transforms flavor
🌱
Grow Peppers from Seed
Germination to harvest guide
🫙
How to Make Hot Sauce
Three methods explained
🔬
Pepper Species Guide
Five domesticated species
Why Trust Us
Built Different
Every pepper profile is cross-referenced against USDA and Chile Pepper Institute data. We grow peppers, test recipes, and never publish filler.
More about our methods →SHU data cited
Every heat range links to a published study or government database.
200+ varieties grown
We've planted, harvested, and tasted these peppers ourselves.
Recipes actually tested
Substitution ratios and cooking tips come from our own kitchen.
No filler pages
If a page doesn't teach you something specific, we don't publish it.
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New pepper profiles, seasonal growing tips, and comparison guides — delivered weekly.