How Much Hotter Is Kanthari Than a Jalapeño?
Kanthari is hotter, at about 80,640 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño: about 16× as hot, using typical values. Across the measured ranges the gap runs from 10× to 32×.
Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify
Side by side
| Kanthari | Jalapeño | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical heat | 80,640 SHU | 5,000 SHU |
| Measured range | 80,640 SHU | 2,500–8,000 SHU |
| Status | Lab tested | Lab tested |
| Species | Capsicum frutescens | Capsicum annuum |
| Origin | Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu, India | Mexico (named after Xalapa, Veracruz) |
| Flavour | Not documented | Grassy, green-vegetal when unripe |
| Colours | ivory white, red, green | 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, 80,640 ÷ 5,000 ≈ 16×. Real pods vary, so the gap between any two fruits can be smaller or larger (10× to 32× across the measured ranges).
In between
7 peppers sit between Jalapeño and Kanthari by typical heat.
- 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, Kanthari or Jalapeño?
Kanthari. It averages about 80,640 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño, about 16× as hot.
How many times hotter is Kanthari than Jalapeño?
About 16× using typical values (80,640 ÷ 5,000). Comparing the extremes of each measured range gives anywhere from 10× to 32×.
How hot is Kanthari?
Kanthari: 80,640 SHU, lab tested.
How hot is Jalapeño?
Jalapeño: 2,500–8,000 SHU, lab tested.
Are Kanthari and Jalapeño the same species?
No. Kanthari is Capsicum frutescens; Jalapeño is Capsicum annuum.
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Sources
- Spices Board India, Chilli spice catalogue (archived 8 Jun 2026): Kanthari: description, capsaicin 0.504%, ASTA 2.96
- Spices Board India, 'List of GI Tags Registered for Spices' (as of 15/09/2026): Kanthari: no Kanthari GI
- 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.