How Much Hotter Is Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Than a Jalapeño?
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T is hotter, at about 1,463,700 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño: about 293× as hot, using typical values. Across the measured ranges the gap runs from 100× to 585×.
Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify
Side by side
| Trinidad Scorpion Butch T | Jalapeño | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical heat | 1,463,700 SHU | 5,000 SHU |
| Measured range | 800,000–1,463,700 SHU | 2,500–8,000 SHU |
| Status | Guinness record | Lab tested |
| Species | Capsicum chinense (Guinness described it as a chinense x frutescens hybrid) | Capsicum annuum |
| Origin | Trinidad strain; propagated in Mississippi, USA, and grown in Australia | 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, 1,463,700 ÷ 5,000 ≈ 293×. Real pods vary, so the gap between any two fruits can be smaller or larger (100× to 585× across the measured ranges).
In between
24 peppers sit between Jalapeño and Trinidad Scorpion Butch T by typical heat.
- 7 Pot Primo1,400,000 SHU
- Komodo Dragon1,400,000 SHU
- Naga Viper1,382,118 SHU
- 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
About each pepper
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T: A Trinidad Scorpion strain propagated by Butch Taylor (Zydeco Hot Sauce, USA) and named after him.
Jalapeño: A Mexican C.
Questions
Which is hotter, Trinidad Scorpion Butch T or Jalapeño?
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T. It averages about 1,463,700 SHU against 5,000 SHU for Jalapeño, about 293× as hot.
How many times hotter is Trinidad Scorpion Butch T than Jalapeño?
About 293× using typical values (1,463,700 ÷ 5,000). Comparing the extremes of each measured range gives anywhere from 100× to 585×.
How hot is Trinidad Scorpion Butch T?
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T: 800,000–1,463,700 SHU, guinness record.
How hot is Jalapeño?
Jalapeño: 2,500–8,000 SHU, lab tested.
Are Trinidad Scorpion Butch T and Jalapeño the same species?
No. Trinidad Scorpion Butch T is Capsicum chinense (Guinness described it as a chinense x frutescens hybrid); Jalapeño is Capsicum annuum.
People also compare
- Trinidad Scorpion Butch T vs Carolina ReaperCarolina Reaper 1.1×
- 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×
- Naga Viper vs JalapeñoNaga Viper 276×
- Ghost Pepper vs JalapeñoGhost Pepper 200×
Sources
- Guinness World Records (record page, archived 1 Dec 2012): Trinidad Scorpion Butch T: 1,463,700 SHU; EML Consulting Services; 1 Mar 2011; The Chilli Factory; hybrid statement
- Guinness World Records news, 19 Nov 2013: Trinidad Scorpion Butch T: Butch T as previous holder
- 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.