The Dangers of Bhut Jolokia
The bhut jolokia pepper is known as the hottest pepper in the world. While it is is edible, people should use extreme care when handling and eating it.
World's Hottest Pepper
The bhut jolokia pepper, also known as the naga morich, the ghost chili and the ghost pepper, was declared the world's hottest pepper by Guinness World Records in 2007. It scores a 1.05 million rating on the Scoville scale, which measures a pepper's hotness. A common jalapeno pepper tops out at 8,100 on the scale.
Safe to Eat
The bhut jolokia is profoundly spicy but is not poisonous. It is a naturally occurring hybrid pepper that grows in Northeastern India. It looks like a habanero pepper, reaching about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. When ripe, it is red or orange and wrinkled.
Precautions
The oil from this pepper will cause extreme pain if it comes in contact with eyes, nose or an open wound. Handle it with gloves
Precautions While Eating
A single seed from the pepper can cause intense pain in the mouth that lasts up to 30 minutes so try a very small bite to gauge your tolerance before cooking with it.
Your Body Will React
After eating the pepper you may feel a burning sensation in your stomach for 20 or 30 minutes. It might have laxative effects as well. It can also cause a person to sweat for a couple of hours.
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