For those who do not often eat hot peppers, it may seem that all of its varieties are equally hot. And, meanwhile, there is an objective assessment of the pungency of pepper on the Scoville scale and the place that a particular variety occupies in terms of pungency depends on the content of the capsaicin substance.
Scoville scale
Capsaicin, an alkaloid found in hot peppers, irritates the mucous membrane, causing unbearable burning sensation, tears in the eyes and flushing of the cheeks. The maximum permissible dose of this substance for humans is 0.004 mg. But this substance, as scientists recently found out, destroys cancer cells, so eating hot peppers is a must.
The scale, developed by the pharmacist Scoville in 1912, allows you to objectively assess the degree of pungency of a particular variety of hot pepper. The lowest on this scale is sweet bell peppers, which do not contain capsaicin at all. Green pepper of the "Tabasco Sauce" variety is estimated at 600-800 units, red pepper of the same variety has already 2500-5000 units, and its Habanero variety - 7000-8000 units on the Scoville scale. Closer to the top on this scale are Jamaican Hot Pepper and Mexican Red Savina Habanero. Their estimates are 100,000-200,000 and 350,000-575,000, respectively. But even these peppers, which not every spicy lover is able to bite, are far from the champions - the varieties of chili peppers - "Scorpion of Trinidad" and "Booth Jolokia", their assessment is 1, 2 and 1 million units.
Hotness Champion - "The Scorpion of Trinidad"
On the plantations where this variety of pepper grows, people move around, dressed in special fully closed overalls and in gas masks. Plucked peppers bake hands even through rubber gloves. The variety got its name from the small tail that grows at the end of each pod, the size of which does not exceed a golf ball. But there are daredevils who manage not only to bite, but even to chew it. Evidence of this feat can be found on YouTube. According to the stories of these risky people, the reward is an unforgettable sensation, reminiscent of the pain of injury.
But this pepper is not grown for food at all - an extract from it is added to the paint, which is used to cover the bottoms of ships, after which they do not become overgrown with shellfish. It is also used to fill pepper sprays, self-defense, and to make tear gas. In microscopic doses, the extract from Trinidad Moruga Scorpion is also used in medicine in the manufacture of drugs and preparations that prevent the development of atherosclerosis, lower blood cholesterol levels and increase visual acuity. It is found in medicines that normalize and accelerate metabolism, help to lose weight, stimulate digestion and improve liver function. The extract of hot pepper stimulates the production of the hormone of happiness - endorphin in the body, providing strong immunity and good mood.
