Bedfordshire Super Naga

A British-bred Capsicum chinense superhot developed in Bedfordshire by Salvatore Genovese and launched commercially by Tesco in 2012 at 1.12 million SHU, noted for its fruity flavour and slow-building heat.

Flavor & Use

Intensely fruity with a distinctive tropical/floral aroma; the heat arrives after a ~30-second delay then builds and lingers for several minutes.

fruitytropical

Culinary

Used sparingly in Bangladeshi-style disheshot saucescurriesstewsfermented mashesand powdersa single pod can season 2–4 litres of sauce. Always wear gloves.

About

The Bedfordshire Super Naga is a Capsicum chinense superhot selected by UK grower Salvatore Genovese on his Blunham farm. Released commercially in 2012, it produced the then-hottest chilli available on British high-street shelves (1.12 million SHU). Pods are small-to-medium, heavily wrinkled, and ripen from green through orange to a deep red. The flavour is intensely fruity with a characteristic delayed-onset burn that builds for several minutes. Plants are slow-growing (5½–6 months seed to pick) and perform best under glass in temperate climates.

Backstory

Developed over two years by Salvatore Genovese at Villa Nurseries, Blunham, Bedfordshire, from an older Assam-region line under the internal codename Mongolian Bumburner. Inspired by the commercial success of his 2011 Bhut Jolokia crop, the Super Naga was launched exclusively through Tesco in September 2012 as the hottest chilli then available on UK supermarket shelves, complete with a six-chilli warning and glove advisory.

Appearance

ShapeWrinkled
ColorGreen · Orange · Red
SkinWrinkled

Growing

SunFull
WaterModerate
ClimateTemperate
Days to maturity170 days
Plant height60–90 cm
Soil pH6–6.8
Germination10–21 days
Spacing60 cm
HardinessZones 9-11

Heritage

We don't have a documented family for this pepper yet.

Sources