Description
Species: Chinense | Origin: India | Heat: Nuclear This landrace chile originates from the northeast of India, particularly Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. It belongs to Capsicum chinense family and is known by many names in the different Indian provinces. The most common names include Bhut jolokia, Bih jolokia, Nagahari, Raja Mircha, Raja chilli or Borbih jolokia. For example Bih jolokia translates to 'poison chilli' in Assamese. Bhut Jolokia translates to 'Ghost chilli' probably due to its ghostly bite. Raja Mircha means 'King of Chillies'. Reports from Assam growers indicate the typical height of Bih Jolokia to be in the range of 45 to120 cm. Like other varieties of the Chinense species, the leaf surface has the characteristic crinkle look and the flowers are pendant, with creamy white corollas, often with a touch of light green. Fruits are 5 to 8.5 cm in length, 2.5 to 3 cm in diameter (at shoulder), with an undulating surface. However it doenst matter what its called, under the right growing conditions these chiles are blisteringly hot with recent tests indicating a heat level of 1,041,427 Scoville Heat Units. Only a few of its closely related Bangladeshi cousin can lay claim such outrageous heat levels.