Purple Ghost Pepper
Also known as Purple Bhut Jolokia · Purple Ghost Chili · Bhut Jolokia Purple
Purple Ghost Pepper is a Capsicum chinense cultivar from Northeast India, Assam, India. Capsi’s sourced range is 800,000–1,041,427 SHU (Vendor Claim). Flavor is fruity, sweet, smoky. Used for hot sauces, chili powders, flakes, stews and curries. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.
The Purple Ghost Pepper is a rare purple variant of the Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) from Northeast India. It features striking purple immature pods that ripen to red, delivering superhot heat with a sweet, fruity flavor. Prized for both ornamental garden appeal and culinary heat.
About 25 times a Capsi Jalapeño (31,902 SHU typical).
Growing
~110 days to maturity
Fruit size
5–8 cm
Flavor & Use
Sweet and fruity with light smokiness; the intense heat develops quickly after the initial bite and builds gradually.
Culinary
About
The Purple Ghost Pepper, also known as Purple Bhut Jolokia, is a striking variant of the classic Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia). It produces wrinkled, elongated pods about 2 inches long with a pointed tip that start dull purple, deepen to vibrant purple, and finally ripen to bright red. The compact plants grow 2.5 to 3 feet tall with purple flowers and sometimes marbled foliage. With a Scoville range of 800,000 to over 1 million SHU, it delivers intense, building heat accompanied by a sweet, fruity flavor with light smokiness that hits quickly. The heat builds over several minutes before subsiding, often accompanied by endorphin rushes. Popular for hot sauces, powders, flakes, and adding fiery depth to stews or curries. It requires full sun for optimal purple coloration, warm humid conditions, and is considered expert-level to grow, taking 110-120 days from transplant. A naturally selected or occurring variant from Assam, India, it stands out in the garden while packing the signature superhot punch of its parent variety.
Backstory
A rare, naturally occurring or selectively bred purple variant of the Bhut Jolokia originating from Northeast India, particularly Assam. It has gained popularity among growers for its vibrant purple immature stage and ornamental value while retaining the intense heat and fruity flavor profile of the classic Ghost Pepper.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
ExplorePeppers bred from Purple Ghost Pepper
Sources
FAQ
- How hot is Purple Ghost Pepper?
- Capsi’s sourced range is 800,000–1,041,427 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 Purple Ghost Pepper taste like?
- Sweet and fruity with light smokiness; the intense heat develops quickly after the initial bite and builds gradually.
- How do I grow Purple Ghost Pepper?
- Purple Ghost Pepper: about 110 days to maturity, tropical to subtropical, warm and humid climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.
- What can I substitute for Purple Ghost Pepper?
- Ghost