Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Scoville Heat
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion measures up to 2,000,000 SHU, with a typical figure of 1,200,000 SHU: about 240× a typical jalapeño. It ranks #5 among verified peppers.
Also called Moruga Scorpion. Capsicum chinense.
Data checked October 20, 2026 · How we rank and verify
Where the number comes from
NMSU Chile Pepper Institute 2012: the mean was 'more than 1.2 million SHU' for randomly selected mature fruit from several plants, dried and ground. Two individual plants registered more than 2 million SHU, which is the peak. The exact mean of 1,207,764 that circulates online (e.g. Wikipedia) could not be traced to an NMSU publication. The widely quoted '2,009,231 SHU' figure also has no NMSU source.
Origin
Moruga, Trinidad and Tobago. A Trinidadian landrace named after the Moruga district. The yellow strain is credited to Wahid Ogeer of Trinidad. NMSU tested it in 2012 with seed supplied by San Diego grower Jim Duffy. [4]
Flavour and looks
Tender, fruit-like flavour that gives a sweet-hot combination.
Colours: red, yellow.
Builds slowly. Bosland: 'It doesn't seem so bad, and then it builds and it builds and it builds.'
Facts
- NMSU's 2012 study was billed as the first scientific study to set average heat levels for 'super-hot' varieties. [1]
- Two individual Moruga Scorpion plants in the NMSU field registered more than 2 million SHU, almost twice an average Bhut Jolokia. [1]
- The Chile Pepper Institute ranks it first among the hottest peppers it has tested, at about 2 million SHU (a peak value). [2]
- Bosland explained the use of averages: 'the industry doesn't like to base it on just a single fruit that's a record holder. It's too variable.' [3]
Record history
- 2012-02-13: NMSU Chile Pepper Institute names it the hottest pepper tested (mean more than 1.2M SHU). This was a university ranking, not a Guinness record.
Hotter and milder
- Komodo Dragon1,400,000 SHU · 1.2× hotter
- Naga Viper1,382,118 SHU · 1.2× hotter
- Infinity1,176,182 SHU · about the same
- 7 Pot Brain Strain1,175,000 SHU · about the same
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion compared
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion vs Carolina ReaperCarolina Reaper 1.4×
- Ghost Pepper vs Trinidad Moruga ScorpionTrinidad Moruga Scorpion 1.2×
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion vs JalapeñoTrinidad Moruga Scorpion 240×
Questions
How hot is Trinidad Moruga Scorpion?
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion measures up to 2,000,000 SHU, with a typical figure of 1,200,000 SHU. That puts it among the superhots, peppers above 1 million SHU.
How many times hotter is Trinidad Moruga Scorpion than a jalapeño?
About 240× a typical jalapeño (1,200,000 vs 5,000 SHU). Against the hottest jalapeños it is about 150×, and against the mildest about 480×.
Is Trinidad Moruga Scorpion the hottest pepper in the world?
No. It ranks #5 in our verified ranking. The current record holder is Pepper X at 2,693,000 SHU.
Where does Trinidad Moruga Scorpion come from?
Moruga, Trinidad and Tobago. A Trinidadian landrace named after the Moruga district.
Is the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion heat figure verified?
Lab tested: Measured by a university, government or peer-reviewed lab. NMSU Chile Pepper Institute 2012: the mean was 'more than 1.2 million SHU' for randomly selected mature fruit from several plants, dried and ground.
Sources
- NMSU News Center, 13 Feb 2012 (Chile Pepper Institute study by Bosland, Coon, Reeves): mean more than 1.2M SHU; individual plants more than 2M; method; date
- NMSU Chile Pepper Institute, 'Heat' page (archived 19 Jun 2021): CPI top-10 list: Moruga 2 million SHU
- Associated Press via Deseret News, 15 Feb 2012: Bosland quotes; Jim Duffy seed (secondary source)
- Wikipedia, Trinidad Moruga scorpion: origin, Wahid Ogeer, flavour, 1,207,764 figure (unverified) (secondary source)