Scotch Bonnet Chilli Pepper

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Chilli Catalogue > Chilli Pepper Varieties > Scotch Bonnet chilli

Scotch Bonnet Chilli Peppers

Scotch Bonnet Chilli Peppers

The Scotch Bonnet is a variety of chilli pepper similar to and of the same species as the habanero. Found mainly in the Caribbean islands, the Scotch Bonnet has nothing to do with Scotland, being so named for its resemblance to a Tam O'shanter, the head garb worn by the character of the same name in Robert Burns poem of 1790.

This chilli pepper is not for the faint of heart as its super-heated flesh contains massive levels of capsaicin, the stuff that makes a chilli hot. Most Scotch Bonnets have a heat rating of 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville Units, making it one of the hottest chilli peppers in the world.

Scotch Bonnet chillis are used to flavour many different dishes and cuisines worldwide. Scotch Bonnet has a flavour distinct from its Habanero cousin. This gives Jerk dishes and other Caribbean dishes their unique flavour. Scotch Bonnets are especially used in Caymanian and Jamaican cooking and also in Trinidad with almost every savoury dish and their pepper sauces, though they often show up in other Caribbean recipes.

Fresh ripe Scotch Bonnets or Habaneros change from green to colours ranging from pumpkin orange to scarlet red. Ripe peppers are prepared for cooking by cutting out the seeds inside the fruit which can be saved for cultivation and other culinary uses.

Whilst we recognise the culinary value of the Scotch Bonnet we do not use it, showing preference to the legendary Habanero pepper that we use in many of our recipes.

Chilli Catalogue > Chilli Pepper Varieties > Scotch Bonnet chilli