Komodo Dragon Pepper

About 60 times a Capsi Jalapeño (25,086 SHU typical).

Flavor & Use

Fruity and sweet at first, followed by a slow-building, intense, and lingering burn similar to 7-pot peppers.

fruitysweet

Culinary

hot saucessalsasextreme heat applications in tiny quantities

About

The Komodo Dragon Pepper was bred and grown commercially in the United Kingdom by Salvatore Genovese on his farm in Blunham, Bedfordshire. It was introduced in 2015 and quickly became one of the hottest peppers sold in UK supermarkets such as Tesco. The pods are elongated, slim, and approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches long, featuring twisted, pocked skin that ends in a slight point—resembling a cross between a habanero and a ghost or 7-pot pepper. They start green and ripen to a bright, deep red. The flavor begins with pleasant fruity and sweet notes, followed by a delayed, intense, and lingering heat that builds slowly and packs a prolonged punch, much like a 7-pot variety. At 1.4–2.2 million Scoville Heat Units, it sits among the world’s hottest commercially available peppers, though it often measures toward the lower to middle of that range. The plants grow up to 4 feet tall and produce high yields of these fiery red pods. It is best suited for extreme hot sauces, salsas, or adding intense heat to dishes in tiny quantities, as even a small amount delivers massive spiciness.

Backstory

Developed in 2015 by UK pepper grower Salvatore Genovese as one of the hottest commercially grown chilies in Britain at the time; sold in major supermarkets like Tesco.

Appearance

ShapeElongated, slim, twisted and pocked skin with pointed tip

Heritage

Explore

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

Sources

FAQ

How hot is Komodo Dragon Pepper?
Capsi’s sourced range is 1,200,000–2,200,000 SHU (Vendor Claim). Capsi uses a sourced range and a trust tier, not a single marketing number. How we verify heat: https://web.thecapsi.app/learn/heat-and-capsaicin/how-we-measure-heat
What does Komodo Dragon Pepper taste like?
Fruity and sweet at first, followed by a slow-building, intense, and lingering burn similar to 7-pot peppers.
How do I grow Komodo Dragon Pepper?
Capsi does not have that recorded yet.
What can I substitute for Komodo Dragon Pepper?
Carolina Reaper, Ghost Pepper