Bird’s eye chilis, also known as Thai chilis, are a variety of small, very spicy chili peppers. They are a staple in many Asian cuisines and are valued for their intense heat and bright, fruity flavor. But not all bird’s eye chilis are equally spicy. There is a wide range in the heat levels of different cultivars of this chili. So how do bird’s eye chilis rank by heat and scoville units compared to other peppers?
What are Scoville Heat Units?
The spiciness or “heat” of a chili pepper is measured using Scoville heat units (SHU). This scale was created in 1912 by Wilbur Scoville to measure the pungency of different chili peppers.
Here’s how the Scoville scale works:
– The number of Scoville heat units indicates the amount of capsaicin present in the chili. Capsaicin is the chemical compound that gives peppers their spicy heat.
– The ratings are based on the concentration of capsaicin extract from the pepper that would be diluted in sugar water to the point where a panel of five tasters could no longer detect any heat.
– The higher the number of Scoville units, the more concentrated the capsaicin, and the hotter the pepper will taste.
Pure capsaicin tops out at 16 million Scoville units. In comparison, a sweet bell pepper scores 0 Scoville units, as it contains no capsaicin at all.
Scoville Ratings of Common Chilis
Here are Scoville ratings for some common types of chili peppers, from mildest to hottest:
Pepper Type | Scoville Rating |
---|---|
Bell pepper | 0 |
Poblano | 1,000 – 2,000 |
Jalapeño | 2,500 – 8,000 |
Serrano chili | 10,000 – 23,000 |
Cayenne pepper | 30,000 – 50,000 |
Tabasco chili | 30,000 – 50,000 |
Thai chili | 50,000 – 100,000 |
Habanero | 100,000 – 350,000 |
Ghost pepper | 855,000 – 1,041,427 |
Carolina Reaper | 1,569,300 – 2,200,000 |
As you can see, the heat levels vary widely, with bell peppers having no heat at all and super-hots like the Carolina Reaper topping 2 million Scoville units.
Scoville Ratings of Bird’s Eye Chilis
Now let’s focus in on bird’s eye chilis and their Scoville ratings specifically.
Bird’s eye chilis can range from 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville heat units. However, just like with jalapeños or habaneros, the spiciness of individual chilis can vary quite a bit even within the same cultivar.
Here are Scoville ratings for some of the most common varieties of bird’s eye chilis:
Bird’s Eye Chili Variety | Scoville Rating |
---|---|
Prairie Fire | 30,000 – 50,000 |
Bird’s Eye Chili | 50,000 – 100,000 |
Thai Chili | 50,000 – 100,000 |
Pequin | 50,000 – 100,000 |
Santaka | 50,000 – 100,000 |
Madame Jeanette | 100,000 – 175,000 |
Little Bird’s Eye | 125,000 – 225,000 |
As you can see, while most bird’s eye chilis fall within the 50,000 to 100,000 SHU range, some are milder like the Prairie Fire at 30,000-50,000 SHU. And others like the Little Bird’s Eye can be quite a bit hotter from 125,000 to 225,000 SHU.
Top 10 Hottest Bird’s Eye Chili Varieties
Based on their Scoville ratings, here is a ranking of the top 10 hottest bird’s eye chili varieties:
Ranking | Bird’s Eye Chili Variety | Scoville Rating |
---|---|---|
1 | Little Bird’s Eye | 125,000 – 225,000 |
2 | Madame Jeanette | 100,000 – 175,000 |
3 | Thai Rat Toe | 130,000 – 150,000 |
4 | Bird’s Beak Chili | 100,000 – 125,000 |
5 | Dragon’s Breath | 125,000 |
6 | Foo Swee | 100,000 – 120,000 |
7 | African Devil | 100,000 – 110,000 |
8 | Siling Labuyo | 100,000 – 105,000 |
9 | Malagueta Pepper | 100,000 – 102,000 |
10 | Bird’s Eye Chili | 50,000 – 100,000 |
The Little Bird’s Eye takes the #1 spot with a blistering heat topping over 200,000 SHU. But many of the other hottest varieties also bring some serious heat with ratings over 100,000 Scoville units.
How Bird’s Eye Chilis Rank Among the Hottest Peppers
Compared to other types of hot peppers, most bird’s eye chilis rank on the lower end of the heat scale.
Their average rating of 50,000 to 100,000 SHU is hotter than jalapeños but much milder than super-hots like habaneros, ghost peppers, and the Carolina Reaper.
However, some of the hottest bird’s eye chili cultivars can give even habaneros a run for their money in terms of heat and pungency. Madame Jeanette and Little Bird’s Eye peppers approach or even surpass the Scoville ratings of some habanero varieties.
Here is how the top hot bird’s eye chilis compare to some of the hottest peppers in the world:
Pepper Type | Scoville Rating |
---|---|
Carolina Reaper | 1,569,300 – 2,200,000 |
Ghost Pepper | 855,000 – 1,041,427 |
Red Savina Habanero | 350,000 – 577,000 |
Habanero | 100,000 – 350,000 |
Madame Jeanette | 100,000 – 175,000 |
Little Bird’s Eye | 125,000 – 225,000 |
So while bird’s eye chilis don’t come close to the mouth-scorching heat of the Carolina Reaper, some of the hottest cultivars like Madame Jeanette and Little Bird’s Eye can rival habaneros for extreme spiciness.
Uses for Hot Bird’s Eye Chilis
What do you do with tiny but fiery bird’s eye chilis? Here are some popular uses:
– Add them to curries, stir fries, and soups for extra heat. They are commonly used in Thai and Indian cuisine.
– Use them raw or pickled in salsas, hot sauces, and marinades to add a spicy kick of flavor.
– Infuse them into oils and vinegars to make spicy condiments.
– Make bird’s eye chili powder from dried chilis to season meats, eggs, roasted vegetables, etc.
– Mix dried or powdered bird’s eye chili into rubs and spice blends for heat without altering flavor.
– Garnish finished dishes with fresh bird’s eye chilis or chili flakes.
No matter how you use them, a little bird’s eye chili goes a long way thanks to its concentrated spicy heat. Start with small amounts and add more to suit your heat tolerance.
Growing Bird’s Eye Chilis
Want to grow your own bird’s eye chilis? Here are some tips:
– Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost. Soak seeds overnight prior to planting.
– Transplant seedlings outdoors after hardening them off, spacing 12-18 inches apart in fertile soil with good drainage.
– Grow bird’s eye chili plants in full sun and temperatures around 70-80°F.
– Water frequently but allow soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Use mulch to retain moisture.
– Fertilize plants every 2-3 weeks during the growing season.
– Harvest chilis when they reach desired size and color. The riper they are, the hotter they will be.
– At end of season, pull plants and hang indoors to dry chilis for storage.
With the right care, you can easily grow bird’s eye chilis in pots or garden beds for a ready supply of tiny, fiery hot peppers.
Conclusion
Bird’s eye chilis encompass a wide range of heat levels, but generally rank from 50,000 to 100,000 Scoville units. The hottest varieties like Little Bird’s Eye and Madame Jeanette can reach scorching levels over 200,000 SHU, rivaling the heat of habanero peppers.
In terms of international cuisine, bird’s eye chilis add a distinctly Thai flavor element. They strike an ideal balance between scorching heat and vibrant, fruity notes.
While too hot for many to handle raw, bird’s eye chilis add incredible heat to salsas, curries, stir fries, and more. Just handle with care when cooking with these tiny but fiery peppers!