7 Pot Barrackpore Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses

What are 7 Pot Barrackpore peppers?

Coming in bigger and a little hotter than a traditional Trinidad 7 Pot pepper, the 7 Pot Barrackpore sits prevalently among the hottest peppers of the world. Though in terms of flavor, the Barrackpore variety tends towards a little more bitterness and slightly less sweetness than other 7 Pot peppers (and other super-hots as well). This super-hot gets its name from the town in which it was originally discovered – Barrakpore, Trinidad.

7 Pot Barrackpore fast facts

• Scoville heat units (SHU): 1,000,000 – 1,300,000 SHU
• Median heat: 1,150,000 SHU
• Origin: Trinidad
• Capsicum species: Chinense
• Jalapeño reference scale: 125 to 520 times hotter
• Use: Culinary
• Size: Approximately 1 inch long, conical
• Flavor: Sweet, Fruity, Bright, Bitter

How hot is the 7 Pot Barrackpore?

The 7 Pot Barrackpore has the same floor as a traditional 7 Pot pepper (1 million Scoville heat units), though its ceiling goes a little higher. (1.3 million SHU). That’s comparable to the 7 Pot Brain Strain, and reaches the lower reaches of the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion.

When comparing this to our jalapeño reference point, the heat difference is off the charts – the Barrackpore chili coming in 125 to 520 times hotter than a jalapeño pepper, depending on the chilies tested. For those familiar with habanero level heat, it’s at least three times hotter than the habanero pepper (which is already too hot for most, unless diluted).

Obviously, when talking heat among super-hots, it’s comparable to judging the heat of various suns. They are all ridiculously hot – so know that before exploring any super-hot pepper, all 7 Pot varieties included. Wear gloves when handling these chilies, and kitchen goggles as well, to stop chili burn from occurring. Know, too, how to stop chili burn, in case it occurs. At these extreme levels, it’s very painful.

What does the this chili look like and taste like?

It certainly has a wicked look, sharing the typical 7 Pot shape – elongated, pimpled, and wrinkled. It also sometimes generates a scorpion-like tail similar to scorpion peppers. The shape shares much with the ghost pepper (But Jolokia). The key difference is the size – the 7 Pot Barrackpore tends to be larger than other 7 Pots, growing up to three inches in length. They follow a typical pepper maturation pattern, aging from green to red, but there are many color varieties available (including yellow and chocolate.)

The flavor is, again like most super-hots, sweet. Thought it does tend to a little less sweetness and even a little bright bitterness in the flavor. It’s not quite as fruity sweet as other 7 Pots, especially those known for their extra sweetness – like the Jonah strain.

How can you use this super-hot chili?

Extreme hot sauces and salsas are a given with this pepper. And, like with other 7 Pots, its name speaks to its ability to be a general heat source: one 7 Pot pepper can easily heat seven pots of stew. Seriously, a sliver of this chili goes a long, long way as a heat source, so take care with its usage if you have the chance to work with this pepper.

Where can you buy 7 Pot Barrackpore?

They aren’t easy to find fresh – check local chili farms near you to see if this pepper variety is available. Oftentimes, they’ll stock other varieties of 7 Pot peppers first, though. If you have a green thumb and love extreme eating, you can pick up 7 Pot Barrackpore pepper seeds online (Amazon). The plants are big producers, so there will be a lot to enjoy throughout the season.

The bigger pepper frame, the extra heat, and the lesser sweetness are the key differentiators between the 7 Pot Barrackpore and other 7 Pots, so consider your use cases if considering it among all options. If heat is the thing, then it’s a certain step up. If you want the fruitiness to complement fruity extreme hot sauces, then you’ll want to consider other options like a 7 Pot Jonah.