Scoville Scale
The Scoville Heat Units (SHU) were established by Wilbur Scoville in 1912 to measure the heat in chili peppers.
Following is the description of how the Scoville system measures heat from Wikipedia:
In the Scoville organoleptic test, an exact weight of dried pepper is dissolved in alcohol to extract the heat components (capsaicinoids), then diluted in a solution of sugar water. Decreasing concentrations of the extracted capsaicinoids are given to a panel of five trained tasters, until a majority (at least three) can no longer detect the heat in a dilution. The heat level is based on this dilution, rated in multiples of 100 SHU.
An alternate means to measure heat is high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the Scoville method is more commonly used. The chart shows the SHU of popular chili peppers and where they rank on the heat scale.
My Personal Heat Scale
When I taste something, I don’t know how many SHU it has, but I know what’s hot and what’s not. So here is the chart I use to classify the heat for the foods I review and the recipes I include on this site. These are based on my personal gauge of the heat level (and this palette is certainly experienced when it comes to heat!). So some of these might have a higher or lower SHU if they have been rated, but my taste may rank them differently. Below are my descriptions for each level.
No Heat: Obviously this is for foods and dishes that are not hot at all, but I include it here for things like bell peppers and sweet peppers and those items that are marketed as hot but do not deliver at all.
Examples from this site: Mini-Sweet Peppers
Mild Heat: This level delivers a little bit of a kick, but it is nothing that will bother those who really enjoy spicy foods. Most spicy items put out by the major brands end up coming in around this level.
Examples from this site: Poblano/Ancho Chili, Huy Fong Sriracha Sauce, Tapatio Ramen, Green Chili Sauce (Recipe)
Medium Heat: This level is where you really start to notice the burn. It won’t send you screaming from the room, but there is a definite bite and you may be seeking something to cool your mouth down. Those who do not care for spicy foods (we weep for them) will probably bow out at this level. But those who search for the hot stuff will find this level tolerable. Note that most of the major brands and chains will rarely go above this level even though they may advertise their product as being much hotter.
Examples from this site: Serrano Chilis, Hoff’s Smoken Ketchup, Buffalo Wild Wings Boneless Bar Pizza, Utz Red Hot Chips
Hot Heat: This level is where the pain really starts to set in. Not that it is a bad thing because that also means the endorphin rush is really kicking in. The average mortal is probably bowing out at this level, but the party is just starting for chiliheads! And when you get this heat level paired with something that really brings good taste, you have that perfect place where flavor meets fire.
Examples from this site: Paqui Fiery Chile Limon Chips, Wingstop Atomic Chicken Sandwich, Trader Joe’s Habanero Hot Sauce, Roasted Sweet Pepper Salsa (Recipe)
Fiery Heat: This is the level where things really get serious. You have to like the heat to be consuming something at this level, and it may not always be a pleasant experience. It is rare to get good taste to balance with the Fiery heat level, and typically this is just about showing how much you can endure. But I have found a few items at this level that I enjoy, even if I paid the price the next day.
Examples from this site: Thai Chilis, Samyang Hot Chicken-Flavored Raman (2x Spicy), Paqui Haunted Ghost Pepper Chips, Fire and Ice Salsa (Recipe)
Insane Heat: This level is for chiliheads only, and likely if you are eating anything this hot or beyond, you are just doing it to prove your tolerance. The insane heat applies mostly to super-hot things like Ghost Peppers and Dave’s Insanity Sauce, and typically those are just used in small portions to amp up the heat of a dish. There are some foods out there that have this heat level like the Paqui One Chip Challenge, but again, that is just about proving how much heat you can handle. The enjoyment of the heat is gone at this point and I rarely find myself consuming anything at this level unless it is used very sparingly. Anything hotter than this is Beyond Insane and for lovers of pain only!
Examples from this site: Ghost Pepper, Dave’s Insanity Sauce, Buffalo Wild Wings Carolina Reaper Blazin’ Wings, Paqui One-Chip Challenge