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What's a Habanero chilli?


An assortment of habanero chilies showing a range of colours and shapes

An assortment of habanero chillies


Plant characteristics of habanero chillies

Morphologically, habanero plants display certain characteristics that, taken as a group, distinguish them from the other domesticated Capsicum species. For example, flowers grow in bunches rather than singly on a node. The number of flowers in each bunch normally ranges from 2 to 6, although we have counted as many as eight on the Dorset Naga we grow. In addition, flower petals are generally greenish white, but can also be either milky white or purple in some varieties. The crinkled leaves of habanero chillies tend to be wider, almost heart-shaped, compared to those of other chilli species. 

 Habanero chilli flower showing the greenish white petals. 

Haberano chilli showing its greenish white petals.

Orange habanero chilli with three fruit on a single node.

Three habanero chillies growing from a single node.


In addition, the fruit of habanero chillies usually have an annular constriction between the calyx and pedicel, see below.

Habanero chilli with an arrow showing the annular constriction

Annular constriction between the calyx and pedicel

Heat level and flavour

Habaneros have a reputation for being extremely hot, and most of them are. They include the group of chillies known as the superhots, which are the hottest chillies in the world. And many of the other habaneros are very hot ranging from 80,000 to 300,000 SHU.

Organoleptically, habaneros include some of the hottest chillies in the world, such as the Jamaican Scotch Bonnet (purportedly shaped like a Scottish tam o'shanter) and Red Savina, a habanero variety developed in the States. Their pungency rating has been reported to range from a very hot (80,000 to 250,000 SHU) such as Submarine  for some varieties to a mouth-numbing 577,000 SHU, the level once supposedly reached by Red Savina. This, however, pales in comparison to the Bangladeshi Naga Morich and all its derivatives, including Dorset Naga, Bih Jolokia, and Bhut Jolokia. They measure around 1,000,000 SHU and easily come out on top of the pungency league table.

A single fruit of Dorset Naga, one of the hottest chillies in the world.

A Dorset Naga chilli

Not all habaneros, however, are pungent. Some are quite a bit tamer, such as Trinity, , which at a 'mere' 39,900 SHU, has a manageable heat level that still gives a nice bit of bite. And then, there are some varieties like Apricot and Bellaforma, that are  almost heatless.

Habanero chillies var. Apricot, a almost heatless chili variety.  Habanero chilli var. Trinity, a medium heat Sea Spring seeds variety

Two varieties of habanero chillies. Left: Apricot, a flavourful but almost heatless habanero; right: Trinity, a medium heat habanero

Culinarily, habaneros have a distinctive aroma that has been compared to tomatoes, citrus fruit, apricots, bubble gum, green apples, and root beer. Take your pick, or add your own description. However they are described, they give an unmistakable flavour to any dish to which they are added.


Why grow a habanero?


Sea Spring Seeds specialises in habaneros, and the selection we offer includes several of our own varieties  as well as several others not found anywhere else.

Further reading

Andrews, Jean. 1995. Peppers: The Domesticated Capsicums. University of Texas Press: Austin, Texas.

Bosland, P. W., and E. J. Votova. 2000. Peppers: Vegetable and Spice Capsicums. CABI: Wallingford, Oxford.

Dewitt, Dave, and Nancy Gerlach. 1995. The Habanero Cookbook. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, California.



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