Dorset Naga

One of the hottest chillies in the world

Joy and Michael Michaud
Sea Spring Seeds / Peppers by Post

Dorset Naga (Capsicum chinensis) is a Scotch Bonnet/habanero chilli, origianlly selected from the Bangladeshi chilli, naga morich.

Annually, since 2005, we have tested the heat level of Dorset Naga, taking samples from different sites, various seasons and states of maturity. The heat level has ranged from 661,451 SHU for green fruit in 2007, up to 1,032,310 SHU for ripe fruit harvested in 2009.

High as our results are, the BBC's “Gardeners’ World” television programme recorded a much higher heat level for Dorset Naga. As part of the 2006 programming, the BBC gardening team ran a trial looking at several chilli varieties, including Dorset Naga. Heat levels were tested by Warwick HRI and the Dorset Naga came in at 1,598,227 SHU, the hottest heat level ever recorded for a chilli.

We are not fully confident of such an extreme figure. However, even after accounting for error, the near 1.6 million SHU measurement still indicates the capacity of this chilli to reach extreme heat levels.

We sell seeds (www.seaspringseeds.co.uk) and fresh fruit (www.peppersbypost.biz) of Dorset Naga.

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