Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper

Trinidad Scorpion Butch T
'Butch T' pepper pods
Species	Capsicum chinense
Hybrid parentage	Trinidad scorpion
Breeder	Butch Taylor
Origin	Crosby, Mississippi
Heat	Exceptionally hot
Scoville scale	500,000 - 1,463,700 SHU

Sprouts

The Trinidad scorpion 'Butch T' pepper is a Capsicum chinense cultivar that is among the most piquant peppers. It is derived from the Trinidad scorpion, which is indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago.^[1] It was named by Neil Smith from The Hippy Seed Company,^[2] after he got the seeds originally from Butch Taylor, the owner of Zydeco Farms in Woodville/Crosby, Mississippi, and a hot sauce company, who is responsible for propagating the pepper's seeds.^[3] The "scorpion" peppers are referred to as such because the pointed end of the pepper is said to resemble a scorpion's stinger.

World record

The Trinidad scorpion 'Butch T' pepper was, for three years, ranked as the most pungent ("hot") pepper in the world, according to Guinness World Records.^[4][5] A laboratory test conducted in March 2011 measured a specimen at 1,463,700 Scoville heat units, officially ranking it the hottest pepper in the world at that time.^{[note 1]} The secret to the heat, according to the creators, is fertilizing the soil with the liquid runoff of a worm farm.^[6] In 2012, Guinness World Records recognized the Carolina Reaper as the hottest pepper in the world, at 1,569,300 SHU.^[7]

Note

1. The pungency of a species of chili pepper can vary by up to a factor of 10 depending on the conditions under which the specimen grew.

References

1. Torrisi, Lauren (February 16, 2012). "Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Crowned World’s Hottest Pepper". ABC News. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
2. Drew, A.J. "Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Pepper". Retrieved December 10, 2014.
3. "New Record Broken Again!" Retrieved April 14, 2011
4. "Hottest chili" at Guinness World Records Retrieved May 26, 2012.
5. "Guinness World Records" at Guinness World Records. Retrieved February 19, 2013
6. "Aussies grow world's hottest chilli" Retrieved April 14, 2011
7. Hottest Chili, Guinness Worlds Records