Scotch bonnet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scotch bonnet |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Species | Capsicum chinense |
| Cultivar | 'Scotch Bonnet' |
| Heat |  Very hot |
| Scoville scale | 100,000–350,000 SHU |
The Scotch bonnet is a type of chili pepper. People also call it Bonney pepper or Caribbean red pepper. It got its name because it looks a bit like a Scottish hat called a tam o' shanter. You can find these peppers almost everywhere in West Africa and the Caribbean.
Scotch bonnets are very hot! They are similar to the habanero pepper. On the Scoville scale, Scotch bonnets measure between 100,000 and 350,000 units. To give you an idea, most jalapeño peppers are much milder. They only measure about 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville units. But did you know there are also sweet kinds of Scotch bonnets? These are called cachucha peppers and grow on some Caribbean islands.
Contents
What Makes Scotch Bonnets Special?
Scotch bonnets are known for their unique taste. They have a sweeter flavor compared to their cousin, the habanero. They also have a rounder, stouter shape. This special flavor is why they are so important in many dishes.
How Scotch Bonnets Are Used in Cooking
These peppers are used to add flavor to many foods around the world. You'll often find them in hot sauces and other spicy condiments. They give jerk dishes, like pork or chicken, their famous taste. They are also key to many other Caribbean recipes.
Scotch bonnets are a big part of the food in many countries. These include Maldivian, West African, Antiguan, Kittitian/Nevisian, Anguillan, Dominican, St. Lucian, Martinican, Guadeloupean, St Vincentian, Grenadian, Trinidadian, Jamaican, Barbadian, Guyanese, Surinamese, Haitian, and Cayman cooking.
You can also find them in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Here, they are used in Caribbean-style foods. Some examples are rice and beans, rondón, saus, beef patties, and ceviche. In the Maldives, this pepper is called githeyo mirus.
The Colors of Scotch Bonnets
When Scotch bonnets are fresh and ready to pick, their colors can change. They usually start green. Then they turn yellow. Finally, they become a bright scarlet red. Some types of this pepper can also ripen to other colors. These include orange, peach, or even a chocolate brown.
Images for kids
-
Scotch bonnet peppers in a Caribbean market
-
A single ripe Scotch bonnet pepper
See also
In Spanish: Scotch bonnet para niños
