When you hear the word “pepper,” the first thing that most likely comes to your head is “hot!” Your tongue might even begin to feel the sensation of this hot spice.
Peppers are one of the most common spices in the world today. They come in many varieties and species.
Peppers also come in different colors, sizes, and shapes. One of the most common varieties of peppers is the scotch bonnet pepper.
What is scotch bonnet pepper? To do justice to this question, this article will educate you on the origin, alternatives, names, uses, and uniqueness of Scotch Bonnet pepper.
What is Scotch Bonnet Pepper?
The Scotch bonnet pepper, botanically known as Capsicum chinense, is a variety of chili peppers about 1 to 2.5 inches in length and 1 to 2 inches in diameter. This chili variety is found abundantly in West Africa and the Caribbean.
Scotch bonnet peppers have different appearances, especially in their colors. According to Wikipedia, “fresh, ripe Scotch bonnets can change from green to yellow to scarlet red; some varieties of this pepper can ripen to orange, yellow, peach, or even a chocolate brown.”
Scotch bonnet peppers are mostly consumed in Maldivian, West African, Anguillan, Antiguan, Kittitian, St. Lucian, Jamaican, Guyanese, Surinamese, Haitian, Grenadian, etc. cuisines.
The list could go on. This shows how much scotch bonnet peppers are used in the food industry.
Alternatives Names of Scotch Bonnet Peppers
The Scotch bonnet pepper has several alternative names. They are also known as “Bonney peppers” or “Caribbean red peppers.” These alternative names are recognized worldwide.
Other local names for the scotch bonnet peppers include Bahamian, Bahama Mama, Jamaican hot, Martinique pepper, boney peppers, Scotty bonus, and goat peppers.
In a country like Nigeria, the pepper has more traditional names, such as “Laredo” (Yorubas), “atarugu” (Hausas), and “ose oyibo” (Igbos).
Keeping all the above-mentioned in mind, the next time you hear the question: “What is scotch bonnet pepper?” you will be able to give some alternative names that this pepper bears.
Origin of Scotch Bonnet Pepper
It is important to know the origin of the Scotch bonnet pepper itself to fully understand the answer to the question, “What is Scotch Bonnet pepper?”
Let’s assume you were guessing that Scotch bonnet peppers originated from somewhere like Scotland (judging by the “scotch” in its name). But no, it is not.
The scotch bonnet pepper’s roots can be traced to the lowland jungles of the western Amazon basin, which is now known as Brazil.
Yes! That’s right. Scotch bonnet peppers originated from Brazil and not Scotland.
So, why is it called “Scotch bonnet pepper” and not “Brazilian pepper?” Well, the scotch bonnet pepper got its name from its appearance and not its origin.
The pepper looks like the Scottish tam-o’-shanter hat, a native hat of the Scottish people.
How Does Scotch Bonnet Pepper Taste?
Scotch bonnet pepper has a distinct smoky flavor and a fruit-like taste (a vague mix of tomato, apple, and cherry). It has a sweeter flavor than its habanero relative (another common chili).
However, the sweetness of scotch bonnet peppers depends on the soil conditions in which they are grown.
Scotch bonnet pepper is a very hot chili. Its heat rating is 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville units, about forty (40) times hotter than a typical jalapeno pepper.
That means, on a scale of 1 to 5, one could confidently say that the scotch bonnet pepper is a solid four and more!
Therefore, if you are not a fan of spicy or peppery foods, you should avoid including these peppers in your diet.
As an alternative, you can remove the seeds of the scotch bonnet peppers before using them, and this would reduce their hotness by a great deal.
How is Scotch Bonnet Pepper Cultivated?
Scotch bonnet peppers grow naturally in tropical heat, especially in the Caribbean (Jamaica). With proper maintenance and care, the pepper plants have a lifespan of about three to five years. They are perennial crops.
When growing scotch bonnet peppers, it is advised to give them a head start and begin growing the seeds about six to ten weeks before the last frost in your area.
After gradual exposure to outdoor environmental conditions, they should be transplanted when the soil is at least sixteen (16) degrees Celsius.
Scotch bonnet peppers are usually dark green in infancy, and as they mature, they turn a deep chocolate brown. A fully mature scotch bonnet pepper ranges in color from red-orange to yellow.
What is Scotch Bonnet Pepper Used for?
Scotch bonnet peppers prepare many dishes, meals, or cuisines.
This is because of their uniquely smoky, fruity, and sweet nature. Their hotness also makes them desired by people who have a thing for spicy hot foods.
Scotch bonnet peppers are used in the following dishes: rice and beans, beef patties, rondón, ceviche, jerk sauce, jerk chicken, peppered shrimp, escovitch fish and escovitch sauce, curry goat and curry chicken, beans and sweet potato porridge, beans cake, spicy, juicy BBQ beef burgers, spicy baked jerk chicken, Caribbean pepper sauce, cheesy burger French toast, a spicy savory crepe, tandoori chicken, samosa, curry paste, and so on.
I trust that we can keep on making this list and still not exhaust all the dishes that can be prepared with scotch bonnet peppers.
Ultimately, you can include scotch bonnet peppers in all your meals. It just depends on your taste.
Adverse Effects of Scotch Bonnet Peppers
Although scotch bonnet peppers have many beneficial qualities, they are not suitable for many people.
The severity of the side effects of consuming scotch bonnet peppers is just the difference.
In some people, scotch bonnet peppers cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach upset.
This is because the chemicals (especially capsaicin) send signals to the brain, thus causing the problems mentioned above.
