According to Wikipedi, the Habanero
Habanero chili
The habanero (/ˌ(h)ɑːbəˈnɛəroʊ/; Spanish: ) is a hot variety of chili pepper. Unripe habaneros are green, and they color as they mature. The most common color variants are orange and red, but the fruit may also be white, brown, yellow, green, or purple. Typically, a ripe habanero is 2–6 cm long. Haban…
Scoville scale
The Scoville scale is a measurement of the pungency of chili peppers and other spicy foods, as recorded in Scoville Heat Units based on the concentration of capsaicinoids, among which capsaicin is the predominant component. The scale is named after its creator, American pharm…
Does Scotch Bonnet have the same taste as habanero peppers?
While both spicy, there is a slight edge in spiciness to the scotch bonnet. Their flavors differ in that the Habanero tends to have a floral, earthy flavor while the Scotch Bonnet tends to be sweet and fruity. One can appreciate these subtle differences in how chefs use each pepper.
Are Scotch bonnets and Habanero really the same thing?
They often get mistaken for the same pepper, though they are a completely different plant. The Habanero pepper is a bit longer, and not as stout at the Scotch Bonnet. Because of their similar flavor profiles and spice, they are often interchanged in recipes.
How hot is the Scotch bonnet pepper?
- Wear hand gloves and wash the peppers in a salty water
- Mix salt/sugar, water, and vinegar
- Add garlic to the mix
- Steam the blend (don’t allow it to boil)
- Pour the scotch bonnets pepper into jars and pour in the warm water
- Close tightly and store inside the refrigerator
What does the Scotch in Scotch bonnet mean?
scotch bonnet verb - olde english/steel reserve- To douse another anywhere from the top of their head to their shoulder-blades with no less than 4 ounces of boymilk. She was beefin'about me givin' her throat babies, so I graced her with a scotch bonnet.
Are Scotch bonnet or habanero hotter?
Which is Hotter: Habanero or Scotch Bonnet? According to Wikipedi, the Habanero [2] and Scotch Bonnet [3] chili peppers have the same exact heating rating of 100,000 to 350,000 SHU or Scoville units. As such, they are equally hot and spicy. Neither wins out on the spiciness scale.
Can you substitute habanero for Scotch bonnet?
Your best option: Habanero pepper If your goal is to find a substitute that'll bring a similar level of heat to the recipe, then the habanero pepper is your best bet. In fact, the habanero and the scotch bonnet are close cousins.
Is Scotch bonnet the hottest?
The Scotch bonnet is one of the hottest peppers out there, ranking side-by-side with the habanero on the Scoville heat scale. However, they are still outmatched in heat by other contenders, such as the Ghost pepper, which comes in at a shocking 1,041,427 on the Scoville scale.
Which is hotter Scotch bonnet or jalapeno?
With a heat rating of 100,000-350,000 scoville units, the scotch bonnet can be up to 40 times hotter than a typical jalapeño pepper.
Are habaneros and scotch bonnets the same?
These chilis have different spice levels, but their taste is also different. Habaneros are slightly sweet and fruity and are a tad bitter. Scotch Bonnets are also sweet and fruity but are not bitter. Those who are unfamiliar with chili spice levels and flavors will barely notice the difference.
What is the closest thing to a Scotch bonnet pepper?
Substitute For Scotch Bonnet PeppersHabanero chiles - (use equal amounts) are about equal in heat. ... OR - Serrano Chiles have a good amount of heat and may be easier for you to find.OR - Thai red chiles - have a different flavor profile but if you're looking for heat they will fill the bill.More items...
What pepper is hotter than a habanero?
The habanero is a very hot pepper with a Scoville heat rating ranging from 100,000 – 350,000. The ghost pepper (also known as Bhut Jolokia) is significantly hotter at 855,000 to 1,041, 427 Scoville heat units. The ghost chili can be 2 to 10 times hotter, so it's a significant uptick in heat.
How strong is Scotch bonnet pepper?
100,000–350,000 Scoville unitsLike the closely related habanero, Scotch bonnets have a heat rating of 100,000–350,000 Scoville units. For comparison, most jalapeño peppers have a heat rating of 2,500 to 8,000 on the Scoville scale.
What's the 10 hottest peppers in the world?
Top 10 Hottest Peppers In The World [2022 Update]Carolina Reaper 2,200,000 SHU. ... Trinidad Moruga Scorpion 2,009,231 SHU. ... 7 Pot Douglah 1,853,936 SHU. ... 7 Pot Primo 1,469,000 SHU. ... Trinidad Scorpion “Butch T” 1,463,700 SHU. ... Naga Viper 1,349,000 SHU. ... Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia) 1,041,427 SHU. ... 7 Pot Barrackpore ~1,000,000 SHU.More items...
What is hotter than a Scotch bonnet?
The nagabon is a cross between a Scotch bonnet and a ghost pepper. Its heat is hotter than the hottest Scotch bonnet (750,000 SHU) and milder than the mildest naga (800,000 SHU).
Why are my Scotch Bonnets not hot?
Crops of chili peppers not hot may be a combination of improper soil and site situations, variety, or even poor cultivation practices. Chili pepper heat is borne in the membranes surrounding the seeds. If you get healthy fruit, they will have a full interior of the pithy hot membranes and a higher heat range.
What is scotch bonnet pepper good for?
Scotch bonnet peppers can be used as a substitute for treating diverse kinds of pain such as; headaches, osteoarthritis pain, rheumatoid pain, painful diabetic neuropathy, and inflammatory heat due to the presence of capsaicin in them.
Are Habaneros and Scotch Bonnets the Same? Hot Pepper Comparison
If you’re considering buying fresh habanero or scotch bonnet peppers, or going seed shopping to plant them in next year’s garden, you might be wondering if there is a difference between the two.
Habanero and Scotch Bonnet Background
Habaneros and scotch bonnets are both varieties of the Capsicum chinense species of pepper, which is different from the C. annuum varieties of jalapenos, bell peppers, cayennes, and banana peppers.
Habanero Heat vs. Scotch Bonnet Heat
Both habaneros and scotch bonnets have similar levels of heat, ranging from 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville heat units (SHU). For comparison, jalapenos range from 2500 to 8000 SHU and Thai chili peppers range from 50,000 to 100,000 SHU.
Flavor and Aroma Differences
Where habaneros and scotch bonnets mainly differ is in their flavor and aroma. Both have a characteristic C. chinense aroma when you cut into them, which is a combination of fruity and floral.
Habanero Pepper Varieties
The orange habanero is the classic habanero still widely cultivated in Yucatan, Mexico. It is fruity, floral, and loaded with heat. It is traditionally used as a ripe or unripe pepper in Yucatecan cuisine.
Scotch Bonnet Pepper Varieties
MOA stands for the Ministry of Agriculture (in Jamaica). The MOA scotch bonnet is considered the gold standard for scotch bonnets in Jamaica, and undergoes rigorous selection standards for quality. It commonly comes in yellow, orange, or red varieties. Like most scotch bonnets, the MOA is very fruity and sweet, and extremely hot.
Is Scotch Bonnet the Same as Habanero?
While not exactly the same, there are significant similarities between the Scotch Bonnet and Habanero chili peppers.
Difference Between Scotch Bonnet and Habanero
Habanero and Scotch Bonnet chili peppers grow in two separate parts of the world.
FAQs About Habanero vs Scotch Bonnet
Scotch Bonnet pepper (also known as bonney pepper or Caribbean red pepper) is a variety of chili pepper which can be found in the Caribbean and West Africa.

The Taste
- As they are cousins, these chilies have a similar fruity taste. But scotch bonnet peppers are slightly sweeter overall. For some dishes (like Caribbean meals), this additional sweetness is important to the overall flavor, but a habanero could be used in a pinch. For both, this sweetnes…
Can You Find Them Fresh easily?
- The habanerois becoming more prevalent in general supermarkets. The scotch bonnet, on the other hand, is a lot harder to find, unless you live in an urban area with Caribbean pockets as it’s a staple of Caribbean cooking. In locations like South Florida, you’ll sometimes see scotch bonnets carried while there’s not a habanero in sight. Still, if they are going to carry anything this spicy, m…
Can You Find Products Made with Them easily?
- Yes to both. Though habanero-based products (salsas and hot sauces) are more prevalent on store shelves. That’s again because of their overall popularity, but also because the habanero – being slightly less sweet – tends to pair better with a wider variety of ingredients. But a favorite for many are products for both peppers that play up that fruity sweetness. There are many tasty …
Overall
- You aren’t going to find two peppers on the Scoville scale with as much similarity as the scotch bonnet and the habanero. These are close cousins with similar heat and similar flavors. The differences do lie in availability, with the habanero typically edging out scotch bonnet in both fresh pepper availability and total products on the store shelves. If you have a recipe calling for a scot…