Scoville heat units (SHU): 60,000 to 80,000
Origin: Brazil
Looking for an ornamental pepper with more to it than just looks? The cheiro roxa is a uniquely-colored purple beauty that many consider one of the prettiest peppers for landscaping. Plus, unlike most other ornamentals, it delivers both heat (more than a cayenne, though less than a habanero) and a delicious fruity flavor. It’s a perfect combo of looks, heat, and flavor.
Weighing in at 60,000 to 80,000 Scoville heat units, cheiro roxa sit at the lower end of extra-hot peppers. Compared to our jalapeño reference point, this chili is 8 to 32 tiimes hotter than a jalapeño pepper, so there’s a most certain kick. Many chilies known for their ornamental beauty tend to the upper reaches of the pepper scale. Most are bred to accentuate their looks over flavor, though the cheiro roxa is more than a looker in the garden.