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Indian Military Hopes to Weaponize the Searing "Ghost Pepper"

Posted by timothy on from the there's-pepper-spray-and-pepper-spray dept.

coondoggie writes "The military in India is looking to weaponize the world's hottest chili, the bhut jolokia or 'ghost pepper,' according to a number of news outlets. The Bhut Jolokia chili pepper from Assam, India is no ordinary pepper. In tests first conducted by the New Mexico State University in 2008 and subsequently confirmed by Guinness World records and others, the Bhut Jolokia reached over one million Scoville heat units, while the next hottest, the Red Savina Habenero, clocks in at a mere 577,000. Scoville units are a universally accepted measure of chili hotness."

1 of 267 comments (clear)

  1. Technically correct, but... by Rene+S.+Hollan · · Score: 5, Informative

    Modern expressions of pungency in terms of Scoville units set pure capsaicin at either 15,000,000 or 16,000,000, and use HPLC to establish concentration of same (and related compounds). A Scoville rating is then set based on the concentration(s) measured.

    So, knowing the reference standard, the measurements are actually quite objective.

    Nobody, as far as I know, uses taste testers anymore.

    --
    In Liberty, Rene