How Much Hotter Is Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Than a Jalapeño?
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion is hotter, at about 1,200,000 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño: about 240× as hot, using typical values. Across the measured ranges the gap runs from 150× to 800×.
Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify
Side by side
| Trinidad Moruga Scorpion | Jalapeño | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical heat | 1,200,000 SHU | 5,000 SHU |
| Measured range | up to 2,000,000 SHU | 2,500–8,000 SHU |
| Status | Lab tested | Lab tested |
| Species | Capsicum chinense | Capsicum annuum |
| Origin | Moruga, Trinidad and Tobago | Mexico (named after Xalapa, Veracruz) |
| Flavour | Tender, fruit-like flavour that gives a sweet-hot combination | Grassy, green-vegetal when unripe |
| Colours | red, yellow | 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, 1,200,000 ÷ 5,000 ≈ 240×. Real pods vary, so the gap between any two fruits can be smaller or larger (150× to 800× across the measured ranges).
In between
20 peppers sit between Jalapeño and Trinidad Moruga Scorpion by typical heat.
- 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
- Fatalii262,500 SHU
About each pepper
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion: A Trinidadian landrace named after the Moruga district.
Jalapeño: A Mexican C.
Questions
Which is hotter, Trinidad Moruga Scorpion or Jalapeño?
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion. It averages about 1,200,000 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño, about 240× as hot.
How many times hotter is Trinidad Moruga Scorpion than Jalapeño?
About 240× using typical values (1,200,000 ÷ 5,000). Comparing the extremes of each measured range gives anywhere from 150× to 800×.
How hot is Trinidad Moruga Scorpion?
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion: up to 2,000,000 SHU, lab tested.
How hot is Jalapeño?
Jalapeño: 2,500–8,000 SHU, lab tested.
Are Trinidad Moruga Scorpion and Jalapeño the same species?
No. Trinidad Moruga Scorpion is Capsicum chinense; Jalapeño is Capsicum annuum.
People also compare
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- Carolina Reaper vs JalapeñoCarolina Reaper 328×
- 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×
- Naga Viper vs JalapeñoNaga Viper 276×
Sources
- NMSU News Center, 13 Feb 2012 (Chile Pepper Institute study by Bosland, Coon, Reeves): Trinidad Moruga Scorpion: mean more than 1.2M SHU; individual plants more than 2M; method; date
- NMSU Chile Pepper Institute, 'Heat' page (archived 19 Jun 2021): Trinidad Moruga Scorpion: CPI top-10 list: Moruga 2 million SHU
- 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.