How Much Hotter Is Naga Viper Than a Jalapeño?
Naga Viper is hotter, at about 1,382,118 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño: about 276× as hot, using typical values. Across the measured ranges the gap runs from 173× to 553×.
Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify
Side by side
| Naga Viper | Jalapeño | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical heat | 1,382,118 SHU | 5,000 SHU |
| Measured range | 1,382,118 SHU | 2,500–8,000 SHU |
| Status | Guinness record | Lab tested |
| Species | Capsicum chinense (claimed three-way hybrid) | Capsicum annuum |
| Origin | Cark, Cumbria, England | Mexico (named after Xalapa, Veracruz) |
| Flavour | Not documented | Grassy, green-vegetal when unripe |
| Colours | red | 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, 1,382,118 ÷ 5,000 ≈ 276×. Real pods vary, so the gap between any two fruits can be smaller or larger (173× to 553× across the measured ranges).
In between
21 peppers sit between Jalapeño and Naga Viper by typical heat.
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion1,200,000 SHU
- Infinity1,176,182 SHU
- 7 Pot Brain Strain1,175,000 SHU
- 7 Pot Douglah1,170,000 SHU
- Dorset Naga1,032,310 SHU
- Ghost Pepper1,001,304 SHU
- Naga Morich1,000,000 SHU
- Dalle Khursani393,950 SHU
About each pepper
Naga Viper: Created by chilli farmer Gerald Fowler of The Chilli Pepper Company.
Jalapeño: A Mexican C.
Questions
Which is hotter, Naga Viper or Jalapeño?
Naga Viper. It averages about 1,382,118 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño, about 276× as hot.
How many times hotter is Naga Viper than Jalapeño?
About 276× using typical values (1,382,118 ÷ 5,000). Comparing the extremes of each measured range gives anywhere from 173× to 553×.
How hot is Naga Viper?
Naga Viper: 1,382,118 SHU, guinness record.
How hot is Jalapeño?
Jalapeño: 2,500–8,000 SHU, lab tested.
Are Naga Viper and Jalapeño the same species?
No. Naga Viper is Capsicum chinense (claimed three-way hybrid); Jalapeño is Capsicum annuum.
People also compare
- Naga Viper vs Carolina ReaperCarolina Reaper 1.2×
- Infinity vs Naga ViperNaga Viper 1.2×
- Pepper X vs JalapeñoPepper X 539×
- Carolina Reaper vs JalapeñoCarolina Reaper 328×
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion vs JalapeñoTrinidad Moruga Scorpion 240×
- 7 Pot Douglah vs Jalapeño7 Pot Douglah 234×
- 7 Pot Primo vs Jalapeño7 Pot Primo 280×
- Trinidad Scorpion Butch T vs JalapeñoTrinidad Scorpion Butch T 293×
Sources
- 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.