The Hottest Chilli Pepper in the World – Bhut Jolokia
If you are wanting to try something amazingly hot, buy Bhut Jolokia (also known as ghost peppers) and test how tough your taste buds really are. In 2007 the Guinness book of records awarded the prize for the hottest chilli in the world to the Bhut Jolokia, and for good reason.
The Bhut Jolokia was traded by the Bhutia tribe (from which its name is derived from) and soon became notorious for its extreme heat. The chilli is rated at over 1 million Scoville heat units, whereas tabasco sauce only has between 2500 to 5000 Scoville heat units.
Bhut Jolokia Used in Food
Bhut Jolokia is used in food in both its fresh and dried form. Not only is it used for its heat, but also for its distinct flavour that goes best with pork or fish. The pepper is often featured in chilli eating competitions and on many restaurant menus who boast the ‘Hottest Curry in the World’.
While it can result in tears for many, people in North India have been eating it for years and use it regularly in their cooking, putting it in pickles, sauces and chutneys. In recent years, it popularity has spread worldwide with scores of people wanting to put their taste buds to the test.
Using Bhut Jolokia in Cooking
There is a range of different ways to prepare this fiery chilli. Popular methods includes putting it in oil to use with cooking or as a dressing on top of meals. Creating salsa is also popular for people who want to add extra spice to their burritos or nachos.
The different ways to eat Bhut Jolokia are only limited by your imagination. If you are wanting to create a curry that you and your friends will be talking about for years to come, add into into the curry sauce, but you have been warned, don’t go overboard.
Fresh vs Dried
Bhut Jolokia is available in both a fresh and dry form. Fresh Bhut Jolokia is somewhat hotter than its dried form, however fresh Bhut Jolokia is harder to come by. It is also available in a powdered form which makes adding it to food easier.
Buying Bhut Jolokia
Bhut Jolokia is widely available over the internet and in speciality stores which stock a wide range of spices. It’s best to make sure the peppers come right from the source, the Assam region of Eastern India, and have been certified as being free from pests, toxins and dyes by the Indian Spices Board.
Bhut Jolokia as a Tasting Phenomenon
Due to its incredible spiciness and wide availability, people have been consuming Bhut Jolokia as a way to test how much heat they can handle. One look on YouTube and you will soon find hundreds of videos of people taking the ‘Bhut Jolokia Challenge’ in which they down a mouthful of the chillies and film their reaction. One Indian lady proved to be the master of all chilli eating and ate 52 chillies right after rubbing it in her eyes. Don’t try this at home.