ChilliFacts

Datil vs Habanero

Habanero is hotter, at about 225,000 SHU against 200,000 SHU for Datil: about 1.1× as hot, using typical values. Across the measured ranges the gap runs from 0.3× to 3.5×.

Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify

A single orange habanero pepper, close up
A single orange habanero pepper, close up. Photo: The original uploader was H at English Wikipedia ., CC BY 2.5.
200,000 SHUDatil
225,000 SHUHabanero
1.1×Heat ratio
HabaneroHotter
Pepper X: 2,693,000 SHUDragon's Breath: 2,480,000 SHUCarolina Reaper: 1,641,183 SHUTrinidad Scorpion Butch T: 1,463,700 SHU7 Pot Primo: 1,400,000 SHUKomodo Dragon: 1,400,000 SHUNaga Viper: 1,382,118 SHUTrinidad Moruga Scorpion: 1,200,000 SHUInfinity: 1,176,182 SHU7 Pot Brain Strain: 1,175,000 SHU7 Pot Douglah: 1,170,000 SHUDorset Naga: 1,032,310 SHUGhost Pepper: 1,001,304 SHUNaga Morich: 1,000,000 SHUDalle Khursani: 393,950 SHUFatalii: 262,500 SHURed Savina: 248,556 SHUScotch Bonnet: 225,000 SHUKanthari: 80,640 SHUBird's Eye Chilli: 75,000 SHUCayenne: 40,000 SHUTabasco: 40,000 SHUGuntur Chilli: 36,160 SHUKashmiri Chilli: 20,800 SHUSerrano: 15,000 SHUByadgi Chilli: 10,000 SHUJalapeño: 5,000 SHUHabanero · 225KDatil · 200K1K SHU10K SHU100K SHU1M SHU
Datil and Habanero on the Scoville scale. Each dot is a pepper in our dataset, on a log scale.

Side by side

DatilHabanero
Typical heat200,000 SHU225,000 SHU
Measured range100,000–300,000 SHU100,000–350,000 SHU
StatusLab testedLab tested
SpeciesCapsicum chinense (UF/IFAS uses the synonym C. sinense)Capsicum chinense
OriginSt. Augustine, Florida, USAYucatan Peninsula, Mexico (species from the Amazon basin)
FlavourSweet, fruity tang in addition to the heatBright tropical sweetness under the heat
Coloursyellow-orange, olive to lime green (unripe, with a purple stripe)orange, red, white, brown, pink

The Scoville maths

The Scoville scale is linear: a pepper at 2,000,000 SHU has twice the capsaicinoids of one at 1,000,000 SHU. So the ratio is a simple division, 225,000 ÷ 200,000 ≈ 1.1×. Real pods vary, so the gap between any two fruits can be smaller or larger (0.3× to 3.5× across the measured ranges).

About each pepper

Datil: UF/IFAS says its exact origin is unknown.

Habanero: Now most closely tied to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

Compare either pepper with another →

Questions

Which is hotter, Datil or Habanero?

Habanero. It averages about 225,000 SHU against 200,000 SHU for Datil, about 1.1× as hot.

How many times hotter is Habanero than Datil?

About 1.1× using typical values (225,000 ÷ 200,000). Comparing the extremes of each measured range gives anywhere from 0.3× to 3.5×.

How hot is Datil?

Datil: 100,000–300,000 SHU, lab tested.

How hot is Habanero?

Habanero: 100,000–350,000 SHU, lab tested.

Are Datil and Habanero the same species?

No. Datil is Capsicum chinense (UF/IFAS uses the synonym C. sinense); Habanero is Capsicum chinense.

People also compare

Sources

  1. UF/IFAS Extension St. Johns County, Hort-3 'Gardening with Datil Peppers' (Aug 2017): Datil: origin caveat, SHU range, species, colours, flavour
  2. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, 'Peppers Ranked by Heat': Habanero: 100,000-350,000 SHU
  3. Texas AgriLife Extension (Dr. Joe Masabni), 'Jalapeno & Other Hot Peppers': Habanero: 200,000-300,000 average

Full source lists are on each pepper's page.