The number of “superhot” pepper varieties is ever growing. Through cross breeding, the frontier of spice seems to be expanding every year.
One of the long-standing superhots is the chocolate bhutlah pepper. This variety was an early entry in the world of cross breeding peppers to create something new and extra-spicy.

Chocolate Bhutlah Pepper Overview
The chocolate bhutlah was initially created by crossing the 7 Pot Douglah and the bhut jolokia (ghost pepper). These were already among the hottest varieties available, and crossing them created something even spicier.
This makes the chocolate bhutlah a part of the Capsicum chinense species where all of the hottest peppers come from.
The peppers ripen from a light green to a deep brown color (hence the ‘chocolate’ naming). However, don’t assume this pepper tastes anything like chocolate!
- Pod shape & size – The peppers grow to be 2-3″ in length and have a teardrop shape. The ends are usually pointed and the skin is folded.

- Planting – Plants can become very large in a single season, 5 feet or taller. This is true of most C. chinense species plants.
- Flavor – The chocolate bhutlah has an earthy flavor with slight sweetness and a mild bitterness. Ghost peppers are more floral, while the 7 pot douglah is a Caribbean variety known for fruitiness.
Chocolate Bhutlah Scoville
As we’ve established, the chocolate bhutlah is one of the hottest peppers in the world. However, the Scoville Scale gives us an objective look at how hot the pepper really is.
In short, the chocolate bhutlah pepper can be as hot at 2,000,000 SHUs on the Scoville Scale. This places it near the very top of the list of hottest peppers in the world.

If you are looking for a pepper with a unique color and scorching heat, this may be the perfect one for you. Growing chocolate bhutlah peppers is just as easy as any other superhot.
Chocolate Bhutlah vs Carolina Reaper
The Carolina Reaper is the official hottest pepper in the world, but some have said that other peppers taste hotter. In the real world, the chocolate bhutlah is definitely as close as it gets to being equal.
Carolina Reaper | Chocolate Bhutlah | |
---|---|---|
Scoville | Up to 2,200,000 SHUs | 2,000,000 SHUs |
Species | C. chinense | C. chinense |
Color | Red | Brown/burgundy |
Size | 1-2″ | 2-3″ |
Perhaps the chocolate bhutlah seems just as hot due to its larger size. A single reaper will typically weigh less than a single chocolate bhutlah.
In any event, the chocolate bhutlah is a seriously hot pepper with a completely different look and flavor. The Carolina Reaper is a small, red pepper with wrinkly skin and a pointy stinger. The chocolate bhutlah is larger, brown, and has smoother skin and a simple teardrop shape.
Chocolate Bhutlah Seeds and Growing
If you want to grow your own chocolate bhutlah peppers, seeds are fairly easy to find online. Try our list of the best places to buy pepper seeds online here.
Growing the chocolate bhutlah is easy, too. Use our detailed guide to growing peppers from seed here. Keep in mind that superhot peppers take longer to grow and ripen than other varieties.

Read Next:
Carl Sutherland
Tuesday 26th of October 2021
I want to grow miniature peppers indoors, any suggestions?
peppergeek
Wednesday 27th of October 2021
Pequin, bird peppers, biquinho...depends what flavor you're looking for! Go small though
Shaun
Sunday 24th of October 2021
Family and I have a farm. We plan to grow nut trees one day, for now we are experimenting with pepper varieties.