ChilliFacts

Kashmiri Chilli Scoville Heat

Kashmiri Chilli measures 20,800–52,000 SHU, with a typical figure of 20,800 SHU: about 4.2× a typical jalapeño. It ranks #19 among verified peppers.

Also called Kashmiri mirch, Kashmiri lal mirch. Capsicum annuum.

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

20,800 SHUTypical heat
20,800–52,000 SHUMeasured range
4.2×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 SHUSerrano: 15,000 SHUByadgi Chilli: 10,000 SHUJalapeño: 5,000 SHUKashmiri Chilli · 20,8001K SHU10K SHU100K SHU1M SHU
Where Kashmiri Chilli sits on the Scoville scale. Each dot is a pepper in our dataset, on a log scale.

Where the number comes from

Both figures are derived from capsaicin percentage using NMSU's conversion (ppm x 16). Krishnamurthy et al. (1999, HPLC) found 0.13% capsaicin in Kashmir red chilli, about 20,800 SHU. The Spices Board lists 0.325%, about 52,000 SHU, with ASTA colour 54.10. The popular '1,000-2,000 SHU' figure has no lab source. Sample provenance is unclear, capsaicin alone understates total capsaicinoids, and SHU on a dry-weight basis reads hotter than fresh fruit.

Origin

Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, India; also sub-tropical North India in winter. Prized for deep red colour rather than heat. The Spices Board lists it as grown in temperate Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Much 'Kashmiri chilli powder' in shops is reportedly Byadgi or a blend. [1]

Flavour and looks

Mild-tasting, colour-forward.

Colours: deep red.

Facts

  • The Spices Board gives Kashmir chilli an ASTA colour value of 54.10, far below Byadgi's 159.9. [1]
  • A 1999 HPLC study found 0.13% capsaicin in Kashmir red chilli, versus 0.21% for Madras red chilli. [2]
  • No Kashmiri chilli appears on the Spices Board's list of GI-registered spices (as of Sep 2026). The Kashmir GI on that list is for saffron. [4]

Hotter and milder

Kashmiri Chilli compared

Compare Kashmiri Chilli with any other pepper →

Part of our guide to Indian chilli varieties.

Questions

How hot is Kashmiri Chilli?

Kashmiri Chilli measures 20,800–52,000 SHU, with a typical figure of 20,800 SHU. That makes it a medium pepper.

How many times hotter is Kashmiri Chilli than a jalapeño?

About 4.2× a typical jalapeño (20,800 vs 5,000 SHU). Against the hottest jalapeños it is about 2.6×, and against the mildest about 8.3×.

Is Kashmiri Chilli the hottest pepper in the world?

No. It ranks #19 in our verified ranking. The current record holder is Pepper X at 2,693,000 SHU.

Where does Kashmiri Chilli come from?

Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, India; also sub-tropical North India in winter. Prized for deep red colour rather than heat.

Is the Kashmiri Chilli heat figure verified?

Lab tested: Measured by a university, government or peer-reviewed lab. Both figures are derived from capsaicin percentage using NMSU's conversion (ppm x 16).

Sources

  1. Spices Board India, Chilli spice catalogue (archived 8 Jun 2026): growing regions, ASTA 54.10, capsaicin 0.325%
  2. Krishnamurthy et al., J. Sci. Ind. Res. 58(8):629-630 (1999), CSIR-NISCAIR: capsaicin 0.13% (HPLC)
  3. Bosland & Baral, HortScience 42(2):222-224 (2007), New Mexico State University: ppm x 16 conversion to SHU
  4. Spices Board India, 'List of GI Tags Registered for Spices' (as of 15/09/2026): no Kashmiri chilli GI
  5. Wikipedia, Kashmiri red chilli: popular 1,000-2,000 SHU claim (unsourced); Byadgi substitution (secondary source)