Naga Jolokia pepper

Taxobox
name = Naga Jolokia

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption = Fresh Naga Jolokia Peppers (whole and cut)
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
subclassis = Asteridae
ordo = Solanales
familia = Solanaceae
genus = "Capsicum"
species = "C. chinense" / "C. frutescens"
subspecies = "C. c. "cultivar" Naga Jolokia"
trinomial = "Capsicum chinense" 'Naga Jolokia"'
trinomial_authority = Pepper
boxwidth=262px


heat= Peak (SR: 1,041,427)The Naga Jolokia (also known as Bhut Jolokia, Ghost Chili, Ghost Pepper, Naga Morich) is a chili pepper that grows in Bangladesh, northeastern India (Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur), and Sri Lanka. In 2006, it was confirmed by Guinness World Records to be the hottest chili in the world, replacing the Red Savina. Disagreement has arisen on whether it is a "Capsicum frutescens" or a "Capsicum chinense". The Indians claim it is a "C. frutescens", but the derived cultivar Dorset Naga was assessed as a "C. chinense". Recent DNA tests have found both "C. chinense" and "C. frutescens" genes.Cite web|url=http://www.fiery-foods.com/dave/sagajolokia.asp|title=Saga Jolokia - Searching for the new "World's Hottest Chile"|accessdate=2007-01-16|year=2007|author=Harald Zoschke, Dave DeWitt, Dr Paul Bosland|format=html]

Nomenclature

It is called Nai Miris in Sri Lanka ("Nai" = 'Cobra', "Miris" = 'Chili'; in Sinhalese) and Bih Jolokia in the Indian state of Assam ("Bih" = 'poison', "Jolokia" = 'chili pepper'; in Assamese). Other names are Bhut Jolokia ("Bhut" = 'ghost', probably due to its ghostly bite or introduction by the Bhutias from Bhutan poison chili), Oo-Morok in Manipur ("Oo" = 'Tree', 'Oo' pronounced as in "Book", "Morok" = 'Chilli'), Borbih Jolokia, Nagahari, Nagajolokia, Naga Morich, Naga Moresh and Raja Mirchi ('King of Chillies'). Regardless of the nomenclature, they all refer to the same plant. The word "Naga", meaning "cobra snake" in Sanskrit, stems from Nagaland and the Naga Community.

Ripe peppers measure convert|60|mm|abbr=on to convert|85|mm|abbr=on long and convert|25|mm|abbr=on|sigfig=0.1 to convert|30|mm|abbr=on wide with an orange or red color. They are similar in appearance to the Habanero pepper, but have a rougher, dented skin - a main characteristic of the Naga.Citation
last = Barker
first = Catherine L.
author-link =
year = 2007
title = Hot Pod: World's Hottest Chilies
periodical = National Geographic Magazine
volume = 2007
issue = May
pages = 21
url = ]

coville rating

In 2000, scientists at India's "Defence Research Laboratory (DRL)" reported a rating of 855,000 units on the Scoville scale,cite journal | author=Mathur R, et al| title=The hottest chili variety in India| journal=Current Science| year=2000| volume=79| issue=3| url=http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/aug102000/scr974.pdf| pages=287–8] Cite web|url=http://www.drdo.org/labs/dls/drl/achieve.shtml|title=Indian Defence Research Laboratory|accessdate=2006-12-12|year=2006|format=html] and in 2004 an Indian export company called "Frontal Agritech" obtained a rating of 1,041,427 units,Scoville rating was obtained through HPLC analysis, unpublished claim. Cite web|url=http://www.frontalagritech.co.in/products/bihjolokia_gen.htm|title=Bih jolokia|accessdate=2006-12-12|year=2006|format=html] which would mean it is almost twice as hot as the Red Savina pepper and roughly equal to the similar-looking Dorset Naga, [Dorset Naga was developed as a hybrid of Naga Morich (another name for Naga Jolokia) by a couple in Dorset, England.] which is derived from the Naga Morich. For comparison, pure capsaicin rates at 15,000,000–16,000,000 Scoville units.

In 2005 at New Mexico State University Chile Pepper Institute near Las Cruces, New Mexico, Regents Professor Paul Bosland found Naga Jolokia grown from seed in southern New Mexico to have a Scoville rating of 1,001,304 SHU by HPLC.Cite web|url=http://www.nmsu.edu/~ucomm/Releases/2007/february/hottest_chile.htm|title=NMSU is home to the world’s hottest chile pepper|accessdate=2007-02-21|year=2007|author=Shaline L. Lopez|format=html]

In February 2007, Guinness World Records certified the Bhut Jolokia (Prof. Bosland's preferred name for the pepper) as the world's hottest chili pepper.Cite web|url=http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14391202|title=Indian chilli world's hottest: Guinness|accessdate=2007-02-18|year=2007|format=html]

The effect of climate on the Scoville rating of Naga Jolokia peppers is dramatic. A 2005 Indian study that compared the percentage availability of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin in Naga Jolokia peppers grown in both Tezpur (Assam) and Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) showed that the heat of the pepper is decreased by over 50% in Gwalior's more arid climate (similar temperatures but less humid, much lower rainfall).cite journal | author=Tiwari A, et al| title=Adaptability and production of hottest chili variety under Gwalior climatic conditions| journal=Current Science| year=2005| volume=88| issue=10| url=http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/may252005/1545.pdf| pages=1545–6]

Dorset Naga cultivar

The cultivar Dorset Naga pepper (cultivar status in process) is grown in West Bexington, Dorset, England. [cite news | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/01/nchilli01.xml |title = Dorset claims world's hottest chilli | publisher = Daily Telegraph | date = 2006-04-01 |accessdate = 2006-07-11 ] [cite news | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2113507,00.html | title = The chilli so hot you need gloves | publisher = The Times | date = 2006-04-01 | accessdate = 2006-07-11 ] [cite news | url = http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/04/01/1528563.htm | title = Farmers claim to grow hottest chili | publisher = TMC.net | date = 2006-04-01 | accessdate = 2006-07-11 ] It was developed through simple plant selection by Michael and Joy Michaud. [cite web|url=http://www.peppersbypost.biz/dorsetnaga/|accessdate=2006-05-06|title=Peppers by post: Dorset Naga] Samples sent to two different U.S. laboratories in early 2006 reported heat ratings of 876,000 and 970,000 Scoville units. [cite web|url=http://www.peppersbypost.biz/dorsetnaga/Biolabs.pdf|title=Laboratory testing certificate from Southwest Bio-Labs|date=2006-02-27|accessdate=2006-05-06|format=pdf] [cite web|url=http://www.peppersbypost.biz/dorsetnaga/Certified_Lab_Certificate.pdf|title=Laboratory testing certificate from Certified Laboratories|date=2006-01-12|accessdate=2006-05-06|format=pdf]

Characteristics

Uses

The pepper is used as a spice in food or eaten alone. One seed from a Naga Jolokia can produce sustained intense pain sensations in the mouth for up to 30 minutes before subsiding. Extreme care should be taken when ingesting the pepper and its seeds, so as to not get it in the eyes. It is used as a cure for stomach ailments. It is also used as a remedy to summer heat, presumably by inducing perspiration. [Cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20058096/|title=‘Ghost chili’ burns away stomach ills - Diet & Nutrition - MSNBC.com:|accessdate=2007-08-05|publisher=Associated Press|year=2007|format=html] In northeastern India the peppers are smeared on fences or used in smoke bombs as a safety precaution to keep wild elephants at a distance. [cite web
last = Hussain
first = Wasbir
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = World's Hottest Chili Used as Elephant Repellent
work =
publisher = National Geographic
date = 2007-11-20
url = http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/11/071120-AP-india-elephants.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-11-21 ] [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = "Toast Chili" Scares Off Elephants
work =National Geographic News website
publisher = National Geographic
date = 2007-11-20
url = http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/11/photogalleries/elephant-pictures
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-08-18 ]

References