How Much Hotter Is Datil Than a Jalapeño?
Datil is hotter, at about 200,000 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño: about 40× as hot, using typical values. Across the measured ranges the gap runs from 13× to 120×.
Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify
Side by side
| Datil | Jalapeño | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical heat | 200,000 SHU | 5,000 SHU |
| Measured range | 100,000–300,000 SHU | 2,500–8,000 SHU |
| Status | Lab tested | Lab tested |
| Species | Capsicum chinense (UF/IFAS uses the synonym C. sinense) | Capsicum annuum |
| Origin | St. Augustine, Florida, USA | Mexico (named after Xalapa, Veracruz) |
| Flavour | Sweet, fruity tang in addition to the heat | Grassy, green-vegetal when unripe |
| Colours | yellow-orange, olive to lime green (unripe, with a purple stripe) | green, red (ripe) |
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, 200,000 ÷ 5,000 ≈ 40×. Real pods vary, so the gap between any two fruits can be smaller or larger (13× to 120× across the measured ranges).
In between
8 peppers sit between Jalapeño and Datil by typical heat.
- Kanthari80,640 SHU
- Bird's Eye Chilli75,000 SHU
- Cayenne40,000 SHU
- Tabasco40,000 SHU
- Guntur Chilli36,160 SHU
- Kashmiri Chilli20,800 SHU
- Serrano15,000 SHU
- Byadgi Chilli10,000 SHU
About each pepper
Questions
Which is hotter, Datil or Jalapeño?
Datil. It averages about 200,000 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño, about 40× as hot.
How many times hotter is Datil than Jalapeño?
About 40× using typical values (200,000 ÷ 5,000). Comparing the extremes of each measured range gives anywhere from 13× to 120×.
How hot is Datil?
Datil: 100,000–300,000 SHU, lab tested.
How hot is Jalapeño?
Jalapeño: 2,500–8,000 SHU, lab tested.
Are Datil and Jalapeño the same species?
No. Datil is Capsicum chinense (UF/IFAS uses the synonym C. sinense); Jalapeño is Capsicum annuum.
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Sources
- UF/IFAS Extension St. Johns County, Hort-3 'Gardening with Datil Peppers' (Aug 2017): Datil: origin caveat, SHU range, species, colours, flavour
- Texas AgriLife Extension (Dr. Joe Masabni), 'Jalapeno & Other Hot Peppers': Jalapeño: 3,500-4,500 average
- NDSU Extension FN584 'From the Garden to the Table: Salsa!': Jalapeño: 2,500-5,000
Full source lists are on each pepper's page.