The Scoville Scale is the universal measurement used to determine the pungency and heat level of chili peppers. Developed by Wilbur Scoville in 1912, the scale assigns a Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) rating based on the concentration of capsaicinoids within the fruit. The Scoville scale is a measurement of spiciness of chili peppers and other substances, recorded in Scoville heat units (SHU).

Understanding the Context

It is based on the concentration of capsaicinoids, among which capsaicin is the predominant component. This interactive Doodle game celebrates American chemist and pharmacist Wilbur Scoville, who is widely recognized for the development of his eponymous Scoville Scale. The Scoville Scale and Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) were named for scientist Wilbur Scoville in 1912 for measuring a chili pepper's pungency and heat. Learn what is the Scoville Scale, a list of chili peppers and their Scoville Heat Units (SHUs) from hottest to mildest and more.

Key Insights

The Scoville Scale, or Scoville Heat Units (SHU), is a system designed to measure the heat intensity of peppers. It was established by Wilbur Scoville, an American pharmacist, in 1912. Scoville pioneered a test that gauged the capsaicin content - the chemical compound accountable for a pepper's heat. The Scoville Scale is a measurement system that rates the heat level of chili peppers and other spicy foods. The scale is named after its inventor, Wilbur Scoville, who developed it in 1912 and is still in use today.

Final Thoughts

Learn how the Scoville Scale works, how pepper heat is measured, and see the world’s hottest peppers ranked with a practical heat chart. The Scoville scale is a measurement system used to quantify the spiciness or heat of chili peppers and certain other spicy foods on the basis of the concentration of capsaicin.