Naga Viper

The Naga Viper (Capsicum chinense) is an unstable three-way hybrid created by chilli farmer Gerald Fowler of the Chilli Pepper Company in Cark, Cumbria, England, crossing the Naga Morich, Bhut Jolokia, and Trinidad Scorpion. The elongated, wrinkled red pods — typically 5–8 cm long — have a rough, puckered surface reflecting their mixed superhot heritage, and ripen from green through orange to red. In 2011 it briefly held the Guinness World Record for the hottest pepper; flavor combines fruity notes with an intense, slow-building heat primarily suited to small-quantity use in superhot sauces.

Days to maturity

100–150 days

Plant height

60–90 cm (2–3 ft)

Best use

Superhot sauces, extreme heat cooking

Species

Capsicum chinense

Origin

England (hybrid developed in Cumbria)