Head to Head
Comparisons
Peppers, measurement methods, and capsaicinoid compounds compared side by side. Pick a matchup to see SHU data, flavor notes, origin stories, and the science behind each difference.
10 comparisons across peppers, methods, and compounds.
Carolina Reaper vs Ghost Pepper
Carolina Reaper vs Ghost Pepper
The Carolina Reaper is roughly twice as hot as the Ghost Pepper. The Reaper hits 2.2 million SHU wit...
Pepper vs PepperPepper X vs Carolina Reaper
Pepper X vs Carolina Reaper
Pepper X took the Guinness World Record from the Carolina Reaper in 2023, measuring 2.69 million SHU...
MethodPepper Extract vs Whole Pepper Heat
Pepper Extract vs Whole Pepper
Extracts concentrate capsaicin by removing everything else. A whole pepper at the same SHU delivers ...
CompoundCapsaicin vs Dihydrocapsaicin
Capsaicin vs Dihydrocapsaicin
Capsaicin (C₁₈H₂₇NO₃) and dihydrocapsaicin differ by a single double bond. That one bond changes how...
Pepper vs PepperScoville Splice vs Pepper X
Scoville Splice vs Pepper X
Pepper X represents the peak of selective breeding at 2.69 million SHU. Scoville Splice's lowest spe...
Pepper vs PepperHabanero vs Jalapeño
Habanero vs Jalapeño
The Habanero (100,000–350,000 SHU) is dramatically hotter than the Jalapeño (2,500–8,000 SHU). The H...
Pepper vs PepperGhost Pepper vs Habanero
Ghost Pepper vs Habanero
The Ghost Pepper at 1.04 million SHU is the entry point to the superhot category and roughly 3–10x h...
Pepper vs PepperMoruga Scorpion vs Carolina Reaper
Moruga Scorpion vs Carolina Reaper
The Carolina Reaper (2.2M SHU) dethroned the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion (2.01M SHU) in 2013. Both are ...
MethodNatural Breeding vs Genomic Engineering
Selective Breeding vs Genomic Engineering
Selective breeding works by crossing the hottest individuals over many generations. Genomic engineer...
MethodOrganoleptic Testing vs HPLC
Organoleptic (Scoville) Test vs HPLC Analysis
The original Scoville test uses human tasters to measure how much sugar water it takes to neutralize...