ChilliFacts

Byadgi Chilli Scoville Heat

Byadgi Chilli measures 5,000–15,000 SHU, with a typical figure of 10,000 SHU: about 2× a typical jalapeño. It ranks #21 among verified peppers.

Also called Byadagi, Bydagi. Capsicum annuum.

Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify

10,000 SHUTypical heat
5,000–15,000 SHUMeasured range
2×Against a jalapeño
Lab testedStatus
Pepper X: 2,693,000 SHUDragon's Breath: 2,480,000 SHUCarolina Reaper: 1,641,183 SHUTrinidad Scorpion Butch T: 1,463,700 SHU7 Pot Primo: 1,400,000 SHUKomodo Dragon: 1,400,000 SHUNaga Viper: 1,382,118 SHUTrinidad Moruga Scorpion: 1,200,000 SHUInfinity: 1,176,182 SHU7 Pot Brain Strain: 1,175,000 SHU7 Pot Douglah: 1,170,000 SHUDorset Naga: 1,032,310 SHUGhost Pepper: 1,001,304 SHUNaga Morich: 1,000,000 SHUDalle Khursani: 393,950 SHUFatalii: 262,500 SHURed Savina: 248,556 SHUHabanero: 225,000 SHUScotch Bonnet: 225,000 SHUDatil: 200,000 SHUKanthari: 80,640 SHUBird's Eye Chilli: 75,000 SHUCayenne: 40,000 SHUTabasco: 40,000 SHUGuntur Chilli: 36,160 SHUKashmiri Chilli: 20,800 SHUSerrano: 15,000 SHUJalapeño: 5,000 SHUByadgi Chilli · 10,0001K SHU10K SHU100K SHU1M SHU
Where Byadgi Chilli sits on the Scoville scale. Each dot is a pepper in our dataset, on a log scale.

Where the number comes from

The Spices Board says capsaicin is 'negligible' and ASTA colour is 159.9. NIFTEM gives 8,000-15,000 SHU, but also gives 0.8-1.3% capsaicin, which would mean about 128,000-208,000 SHU, so its own numbers do not agree. Wikipedia gives 5,000-15,000. Our typical figure is the midpoint of 5,000-15,000. It is clearly a low-heat, high-colour chilli.

Origin

Byadgi, Haveri district, Karnataka, India (also Dharwad and Gadag). Named after the town of Byadgi in Haveri district, it is famous for its wrinkled pods and deep red colour. There are two main types: the long, thin Kaddi and the shorter, plumper Dabbi. It is used for colour extraction (oleoresin) as well as cooking. [4]

Flavour and looks

Mild, aromatic.

Colours: deep red.

Facts

  • Byadagi Chilli is GI-registered under application 129 (certificate dated 27 Jan 2011; valid to 31 Jul 2028), with the Spices Board as proprietor. [1]
  • The Spices Board lists Byadagi (Kaddi) at ASTA colour value 159.9 with 'negligible' capsaicin, the reddest and mildest variety in its list. [3]
  • Oleoresin extracted from Byadgi chillies is used in nail polish and lipstick. [5]

Record history

  • 2008-08-01: GI application no. 129 filed by Spices Board
  • 2011-01-27: GI certificate no. 147 issued (Registry date 27-01-2011; widely reported as 'February 2011')

Hotter and milder

Byadgi Chilli compared

Compare Byadgi Chilli with any other pepper →

Part of our guide to Indian chilli varieties.

Questions

How hot is Byadgi Chilli?

Byadgi Chilli measures 5,000–15,000 SHU, with a typical figure of 10,000 SHU. That makes it a medium pepper.

How many times hotter is Byadgi Chilli than a jalapeño?

About 2× a typical jalapeño (10,000 vs 5,000 SHU). Against the hottest jalapeños it is about 1.3×, and against the mildest about 4×.

Is Byadgi Chilli the hottest pepper in the world?

No. It ranks #21 in our verified ranking. The current record holder is Pepper X at 2,693,000 SHU.

Where does Byadgi Chilli come from?

Byadgi, Haveri district, Karnataka, India (also Dharwad and Gadag). Named after the town of Byadgi in Haveri district, it is famous for its wrinkled pods and deep red colour.

Is the Byadgi Chilli heat figure verified?

Lab tested: Measured by a university, government or peer-reviewed lab. The Spices Board says capsaicin is 'negligible' and ASTA colour is 159.9.

Sources

  1. IP India GI Registry, application 129 (Byadagi Chilli): GI dates and numbers
  2. Spices Board India, 'List of GI Tags Registered for Spices' (as of 15/09/2026): GI certificate date and validity
  3. Spices Board India, Chilli spice catalogue (archived 8 Jun 2026): ASTA 159.9; capsaicin negligible; Dharwar; 21,000 t
  4. NIFTEM (Govt of India) PMFME 'Handbook for Byadgi Chilli Processing': 8,000-15,000 SHU; Kaddi/Dabbi; districts (internally inconsistent capsaicin figure)
  5. Wikipedia, Byadagi chilli: oleoresin cosmetics; 5,000-15,000 (secondary source)