Scotch bonnet (pepper)

Scotch bonnet (pepper)
Species Capsicum chinense
Cultivar 'Scotch Bonnet'
Heat Very hot
Scoville scale 100,000–400,000 SHU

Scotch bonnet, also known as scotty bons,[1] bonney peppers, or Caribbean red peppers,[2] is a variety of chili pepper named for its resemblance to a tam o' shanter hat.[3] Also called ata rodo by Yoruba natives of Nigeria, it is found mainly in the Caribbean islands; it is also found in Guyana (where it is called the ball-of-fire pepper), the Maldives Islands (where it is called githeyo mirus), Panama (where it is called aji chombo) and West Africa.[4] Most Scotch bonnets have a heat rating of 100,000–350,000 Scoville units.[5] For comparison, most jalapeño peppers have a heat rating of 2,500 to 8,000 on the Scoville scale. However, completely sweet varieties of Scotch bonnet are grown on some of the Caribbean islands, called cachucha peppers.

These peppers are used to flavour many different dishes and cuisines worldwide and are often used in hot sauces and condiments. The Scotch bonnet has a sweeter flavour and stouter shape, distinct from its habanero relative with which it is often confused, and gives jerk dishes (pork/chicken) and other Caribbean dishes their unique flavour. Scotch bonnets are mostly used in West African, Antiguan, Kittitian, Anguilan, Dominican, St. Lucian, St Vincentian, Grenadian, Trinidadian, Jamaican, Barbadian, Guyanese, Surinamese, Haitian and Cayman cuisines and pepper sauces, though they often show up in other Caribbean recipes. It is also used in Costa Rica and Panama for Caribbean-styled recipes such as rice and peas, rondon, saus, beef patties, and ceviches.

Fresh, ripe scotch bonnets change from green to yellow to scarlet red.

See also

References

  1. ↑ DeWitt, Dave (1996). Pepper Profile: Scotch Bonnet. Fiery-Foods.com.
  2. ↑ "Chile Peppers Recipes".
  3. ↑ Andrews, Jean (1998). The Pepper Lady's Pocket Pepper Primer. University of Texas Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-292-70483-1.
  4. ↑ "Mead Recipes: Scotch Bonnet Capsimel". This recipe uses very hot Scotch Bonnet chillies (which are ubiquitous in West Africa).
  5. ↑ "Chile Pepper Heat Scoville Scale". About.com: Home Cooking. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-08-21.

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