The Kraken Scorpion, a creation by Mike Hess in the United States, stands out with its striking appearance and fiery heat. This stout plant thrives in pots, boasting a meter in height. Its pods, starting green and maturing to a dark brown, exhibit a distinctive elongated shape with occasional tails. The rough, pimply skin adds to its unique charm.
The Kraken Scorpion Orange, a variant of the Kraken Scorpion, originates from the United States, bred by Mike Hess. This strain emerged from a cross between a Chocolate Scorpion and Bhut Jolokia Carbon, yielding a distinctive orange phenotype. Renowned for its prolific yield, this chilli boasts thin-walled, crunchy pods that transition from green to a vibrant orange upon ripening. Its flavour, characterised by a delightful sweetness and fruitiness, sets it apart with a unique absence of typical scorpion or Bhut Jolokia notes. The plant itself is compact, thriving well in pots, reaching approximately 60 cm in height and width.
Hailing from Chile, South America, the Monster Naga boasts robust stems and prodigious, bright red pods, embodying the essence of Capsicum Chinense. These monster-sized peppers evolve from vibrant green to a striking red, showcasing their potency and allure.
The Multicoloured Bhut Chilli, a variant of the famous Ghost Pepper from Northeast India, dazzles with its striking mix of green, purple, orange, and red hues. Belonging to the Capsicum chinense species, it thrives in hot, humid climates and is as ornamental as it is fiery. Whether used fresh, dried, or blended into hot sauces, curries, pickles, and marinades, its versatility and vibrant colour make it a favourite for those seeking bold, unforgettable spice.
Naga 7 Brown, a prolific producer, yields pods resembling golf balls, transitioning from green to a rich chocolate brown when ripe. Developed by The Hippy Seed Company, it’s a cross between Bhut Jolokia and a 7 pod pepper, boasting intense heat and a sweet, fruity taste.
Renowned as one of the great producers of intense heat, the Naga Morich hails from Bangladesh. Its name, meaning “snake or serpent Chilli,” aptly characterises its ferocious nature. The thin-walled, wrinkled pods exhibit considerable variability in shape, typically wedge-shaped. Ranging from rich green to vibrant yellow/orange and ultimately to a deep red, these pods mature approximately 120 days after transplanting. The plants grow vigorously, reaching up to one meter in height, with ovate, pale green leaves.
Originating from a crossbreeding experiment, the Nagabon Jolokia emerged from 500 plants grown, exhibiting traits akin to the Scotch Bonnet with pods resembling large Naga peppers. Renowned for its prolific yield and intense heat, this C. Chinense variant has been meticulously stabilized over the years.
Renowned for its exceptional flavour and formidable heat, the Nebru 7 Pod emerges as a stellar creation blending the robust Jonah 7 Pod with the vibrant Trinidad Yellow Scotch Bonnet. Originating in Western Australia, this chilli has undergone meticulous cultivation to enhance its size and potency. Sporting pods akin to golf balls, they begin as verdant orbs before maturing into a striking yellow hue, evoking both visual allure and gustatory delight.
The Neil S Scorpion, a creation of Neil Smith from The Hippy Seed Company, boasts remarkable qualities. This chilli, known for its intense heat and distinctive scorpion-like appearance, is a testament to Smith’s expertise. With pods transitioning from vibrant green to fiery red, it stands out in any garden. A great producer of exceptionally hot chillies, its gnarly pods with sharp tails add to its allure.
The Neil Smooth Scorpion, bred by renowned Chilli Man Neil Smith, is a top producer of fiery red pods. Its bushy stature reaches over a meter in pots or even larger when planted in the ground. Pods start green and mature to a blazing red hue.
Hailing from Trinidad, the Orange 7 Pod Pepper is renowned for its prolific production of golf ball-sized orange pods. With a stout frame, it thrives in partial shade, reaching under a metre in height. The pods, reminiscent of habaneros, transition from green to vibrant orange as they mature, boasting a thick, sweet, and juicy flesh with a distinct 7 pod taste and a formidable heat level. Its moniker stems from the belief that one pod can render seven pots of food spicy.
Hailing from the northeastern regions of India, particularly Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur, the Orange Bhut Jolokia boasts a robust stature, yielding an abundance of elongated, orange pods. These pods offer a distinctive Naga flavour, coupled with an intense heat. When consumed, they present a soft and squishy texture, adding to their allure.
Originating from India, the Orange Bih Jolokia is a formidable member of the Naga family, renowned for its fiery heat and distinct flavour. Its stocky stature, growing up to nearly a meter, yields pods transitioning from light green to a vibrant orange hue.
The Orange Butch T Scorpion, renowned for its nuclear heat, boasts a vibrant appearance with pods transitioning from green to a warm orange hue. It’s a prolific producer, yielding bushy plants reaching a meter in height. Despite its extreme heat, it offers a sweet, fruity flavour.
Originating from Trinidad, the Orange Trinidad Scorpion is renowned for its intense heat and vibrant orange pods. It’s a prolific producer with small, spreading growth, making it suitable for balconies or terraces. When fully ripe, the pods exhibit a sharp tail and transition from light green to a striking orange hue.
Originating from the Capsicum chinense species, the Peach 7 Pod boasts stunning peachy-coloured pods, indicative of its name. These pods, initially light green, transform into a vibrant peach hue upon full maturity. With a stocky growth habit, this variety flourishes in pots, reaching heights of 70-100 cm, or larger when planted directly in the ground. Notably, it is revered for its abundant yield of large, peach-coloured pods, adding aesthetic allure to any garden.
Originating from Trinidad, the Peach Moruga Scorpion boasts exceptional heat levels, making it one of the hottest chillies available. Its pods start as light green and mature into a beautiful peach colour. This Chinense variety is known for its intense heat, making it a daring choice for spice enthusiasts.
Originating from the Chinense species, the Pink 7 Pod chilli boasts a unique combination of peachy hues with a subtle pink tinge. These peppers, reminiscent of a golf ball in size, flourish abundantly, showcasing a spectrum of colours from light green to peach.
The Primo 7 Pot Pepper, masterfully cultivated by Troy Primeaux, boasts lineage from the Naga Morich and Trinidad 7 Pot Pepper. Known as a great producer, it yields fiery red pods with a gnarly surface.
The Purple Bhut BR (Blotchy Red) is a remarkable new phenotype cultivated by The Hippy Seed Company. This variety, although not yet stabilized, promises beauty and intrigue. With bushy plants reaching 40-50 cm, it yields Bhut-shaped pods, initially light green but transitioning to deep purple, then to red with a devilish blotchy black appearance.
Purple Pumpkin Chilli, a remarkable variant of the Purple Bhut Jolokia, underwent a spontaneous genetic transformation, resulting in its distinctive traits. Renowned for its vibrant hues and pumpkin-shaped pods, this chilli plant has captivated growers for 8 years. Its unique colour progression, from light green to blotchy purple and finally to bright red, coupled with its bushy growth and prolific pod production, renders it a stunning addition to any garden.
The Purple Reaper, hailing from Brazil and cultivated by Carlos Jr, stands as a testament to the fiery spirit of South American chilli enthusiasts. Renowned for its potency and striking appearance, it produces an abundance of pods that transition from dark purple to vibrant red, with a tantalisingly fruity flavour and extreme heat level.
The Purple Viper Naga, originating from the Matthew Arthur strain, stands out for its stunning appearance. With purple stems, dark green leaves tinged with black, and vibrant pods transitioning from green to purple to bright red when ripe, it’s a visual delight.
Renowned for its fiery reputation, the Red 7 Pod is a revered chilli variety hailing from Trinidad, cherished for its intense heat and vibrant red hue upon maturity. Resilient and robust, it thrives in Caribbean climates, offering a bountiful harvest.
The Red Naga Brain, a fiery creation by American chilli grower Gary Montcalm, emerges from a blend of the Brain Strain 7 pod and Dorset Naga varieties. It boasts a gnarly appearance, with red, wrinkled pods measuring around 4 cm in length and 3 cm in width. A fantastic producer, it thrives in pots, reaching heights of 70 cm to one metre.
The Scotch Brain Chilli, a hybrid of Scotch Bonnet and Yellow Brain Strain 7 pod, stands out for its exceptional taste and formidable heat. Renowned for its prolific production, its golf ball-sized pods ripen into a warm yellow hue with a bumpy surface, making it visually striking. With its fantastic growth potential in pots, reaching up to a meter in height, it’s a top choice for chilli enthusiasts seeking both flavour and heat.
Tabanaga, an extraordinary hybrid chilli, was ingeniously crafted by The Hippy Seed Company in 2009, making it a prized possession among chilli aficionados. This exceptional variety arises from the union of the Tabasco and Dorset Naga, yielding a truly remarkable fruit.
The Tanzanian Ghost, a formidable C. Chinense variety, earned its name from its ability to deter elephants from African crops. These bushy plants, reaching 80cm in pots, produce vibrant green pods maturing into fiery red, delivering both intense heat and a distinctively smoky flavour when dried.
Testanera pepper offers an intriguing aesthetic with its Red-to-chocolate skin that wrinkles as it ripens, giving each pod a distinct texture. The Pointed shape combined with red-to-chocolate wrinkled skin suggests a really intense-looking pepper. You won’t be disappointed growing this beast!
The indigenous hot peppers of the Caribbean are renowned for their intense heat and aromatic flavors, making them some of the spiciest peppers in the world. Unlike many other hot pepper varieties, which belong to the Capsicum annuum species, the Caribbean’s indigenous landraces predominantly belong to Capsicum chinense Jacq.
The center of origin for Capsicum chinense is believed to be the Tropical Americas, specifically the northern regions of South America (Northern Brazil-Guyana-Venezuela), Central America, and the Caribbean Antilles. These regions have a rich history of cultivating and utilizing these flavorful peppers.
Hot peppers from the Caribbean are commonly used in their raw form, adding a fiery kick to salads, marinades, and food garnishes. They are also frequently combined with other ingredients to create hot sauces, commonly known as “pepper sauce,” which are used as condiments to add a warm to hot pungency to various dishes.
Furthermore, hot peppers can be preserved in different ways. They can be canned, pickled, transformed into jellies and relishes, or even dried or smoked, allowing their flavors to be enjoyed in various culinary applications.
Hailing from Western Australia, The God Stopper Chilli, also known as 7 Primo Hybrid, is a fiery delight for heat enthusiasts. This hybrid, originating from a Caramel 7 Primo, boasts stability after meticulous cultivation by an Australian pepper aficionado.
Chilli is indeed a significant ingredient in various regions and cultures of India. Its influence goes beyond just being a food item and extends to religious practices as well. In Indian cuisine, chillies can be enjoyed in different forms such as fresh, dried, flaked, or powdered. They are used as a garnish or incorporated into masalas, which are spice blends used to enhance the flavors of dishes. Whether it’s adding a spicy kick or contributing to the overall taste, chillies hold a special place in Indian culinary traditions.
