The Trinidad Scorpion Pepper is among the hottest peppers in the world with a big range of heat. It hails from the Caribbean and is named for it's scorpion-like tail. Learn more about these peppers below.
Scoville Heat Units: 300,000+ SHU
Capsicum Chinense
The Trinidad Scorpion pepper is a chili pepper hailing from the Caribbean. It is native to Trinidad and Tobago. These red, wrinkled peppers sport tails that resemble the scorpion, hence the name, and are known for their intense heat.
Scorpion peppers were fairly uncommon in the early 2000s, even in Trinidad, though their popularity exploded with the announcement of the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T variety in 2011, which briefly earned the title of "Hottest Pepper in the World".
Since then, scorpion peppers have become increasingly common, with growers creating many different varieties and strains, with names like Chocolate Scorpions, Kraken Scorpions, and Apocalypse Scorpions, among others.
Growing Trinidad Scorpion Peppers
When growing, they are approximately 80+ days to full maturity, and they are great for growing in pots or containers, and even for indoor growing. The peppers are usually produced with a pointy tail.
They are very hot and mature from green to vibrant red, though you'll find other varieties that mature to yellow, brown, and even peach. Plant has green stems, green leaves, and creamy-yellow flowers.
How Hot is the Scorpion Pepper?
Trinidad Scorpion peppers can range in heat, many of them measuring in at around 300,000 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale. This would make an average Trinidad scorpion about the same level heat as a habanero pepper.
Compare that to a jalapeno pepper, which averages around 5,000 SHU and you'll find that the Trinidad scorpion is roughly 60 times hotter.
However, there are hotter varieties. The most famous of this particular pepper is the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper, which is one of the hottest peppers in the world measuring over 1.4 Million Scoville Heat Units and median heat of nearly 1.2 Million SHU with bumpy skin and a scorpion-like tail.
That pepper is indigenous to Tobago and Trinidad, and was propagated in the United States by Butch Taylor in 2011, who provided seeds to Neil Smith of The Hippy Seed Company and Marcel de Wit, from the Chilli Factory, both in Australia. It went on to hold the world record for chili pepper heat for a time.
Another is the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, which over took the Trinidad scorpion pepper and measures in at over 2 Million SHU. Talk about a hot pepper.
Cooking with Trinidad Scorpion Peppers
Be careful when cooking with these peppers, as they are extremely hot and can make your skin burn when handling them. They are ideal for salsas, marinades, and making your own hot sauce.
They have a somewhat fruity flavor, but also an intense, quick burst of biting heat that takes a while to subside, which I call the "scorpion sting". If you do experience heat on your skin or from eating these peppers, see my page on how to stop the chili pepper burn for helpful information.
How to Dry Scorpion Peppers
I enjoy growing Trinidad scorpion peppers for drying and turning into spicy chili powders. They are easy to dry and it is best to use a dehydrator. Simple wash and dry the peppers, then remove the stems and slice them in half.
Lay them onto dehydrator sheets and dry them at least 8 hours at 130 degrees F, or until they are completely dried and brittle. Then you can grind them into powders or save them for rehydrating or grinding later.
See my post on Dehydrating Chili Peppers.
Where to Buy Trinidad Scorpions
You can find Trinidad Scorpion products (like hot sauces, dried pods, etc) at Amazon (affiliate link, my friends), or check out my Chili Pepper Seeds and Chili Pepper Plants resources section.
Got any questions? Ask away! I'm glad to help.
NOTE: This post was updated on 3/15/22 to include new information. It was originally published on 10/23/13.
Alex says
Hiya Mike - I want to say thanks for your really great website, I'm a relatively new home chilli grower who's currently got 28 plants in my little flat in South London. I'm looking forward to trying your ghost pepper chilli jam recipe soon, I'll make enough to gift some to friends at Christmas time. PUFF UP YA CHEST! Haha.
Mike Hultquist says
Boom! That's awesome, Alex! I love to hear it! You'll certainly get some great heat with the ghosts. Nice.
Wesley says
Hello Mike, do you remove the seeds before you dehydrate and grind them?
Mike Hultquist says
I usually knock out the seeds, but don't mind if some stay in. The seeds can be a bit bitter when ground, and affect the final color of your powders. They're edible, though, so you can leave them in if you want to.
Sara says
Can I use Trinidad Scorpion peppers in a salve for relief of joint/muscle pain? I have dehydrated them and plan to grind them up. Is this the best way to add them? And with the seeds?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sarah, surely. Capsaicin can be used to help the joints. You can grind the dried pods and work the powder into a lotion to help. You can use the seeds if you'd like, though the heat is not in the seeds. They also can bring a bitter taste if you plan to use the powder for spicing foods. Something to keep in mind.