The chocolate ghost pepper is a wrinkly, pointed, dark brown chili pepper with a sweet, fruity, smoky, and tangy flavor that precedes a powerful, delayed heat. Ranging from 375,000 to over a million Scoville Heat Units (SHU), this superhot pepper's burn builds slowly but intensely, lasting for a prolonged period.
Appearance
Color: Matures to a dark brown, chocolate color.
Shape: The pods are gnarled, wrinkled, and conical, tapering to a distinct point.
Size: Typically 5-8 centimeters (2-3 inches) in length.
Flavor and Aroma
Fruity and Sweet: The initial taste is characterized by fruity and subtly sweet notes, sometimes with a berry-like hint.
Smoky and Tangy: Smoky undertones and a slight tanginess can also be present.
Earthy: An earthy, floral scent and flavor often accompany the fruitiness.
Heat Profile
Delayed Burn: The intense heat is deceptive, not arriving immediately but gradually building after a delay of several seconds to a minute.
Intense and Long-Lasting: The heat is powerful and can linger on the palate for 30 minutes or more.
Superhot: The chocolate ghost pepper is a superhot pepper, with SHU levels comparable to or exceeding the traditional red ghost pepper.
These seeds were grown in isolation to help preserve genetics.