The ghost pepper family, lab-tested
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We sell ten SpiceQuest chili grinders with ghost in the name. Nine have a lab result, and they run from 269,593 Scoville units for Blood Ghost to 549,403 for Chocolate Ghost, about twice as hot. The tenth, White Ghost, is estimated at about 375,000 and is not lab-tested. Three of the nine, Red, Green and Yellow Ghost, arrived together in the Ghost Kit.
One name, ten grinders
What these peppers share is the name. Red Ghost is the ripe ghost pepper, Green Ghost is the same pepper picked before it ripens and Yellow Ghost is a yellow-ripening form of it. For the others we make no claim about how they are related to the ghost pepper in our no. 5 grinder. What we can give is a number for each one and how each one tastes. All ten are pure pepper.
| Grinder | Scoville units | Lab-tested |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate Ghost | 549,403 | Yes |
| Red Ghost | 527,676 | Yes |
| White Ghost Scorpion | 417,503 | Yes |
| No. 5 Ghost | 417,166 | Yes |
| Pineapple Ghost | 387,246 | Yes |
| Green Ghost | 360,498 | Yes |
| Peach Ghost | 321,199 | Yes |
| Yellow Ghost | 285,998 | Yes |
| Blood Ghost | 269,593 | Yes |
| White Ghost | about 375,000 | No, estimated |
The nine tested rows are in order of heat. White Ghost sits last because its figure is an estimate.
Around no. 5
No. 5 Ghost, at 417,166, is the reference point. Chocolate Ghost tested about 1.3 times as hot and Red Ghost about 1.3 times as well, a little under Chocolate. White Ghost Scorpion tested 337 units above no. 5, a gap too small to feel. Pineapple Ghost came in at about 93 percent of no. 5, Green Ghost at about 86 percent, Peach Ghost at about 77 percent, Yellow Ghost at about 69 percent and Blood Ghost at about 65 percent.
On our tiers, Blood Ghost, Yellow Ghost and Peach Ghost are Hot, 100,000 to 349,999. The other six tested grinders are Superhot, 350,000 to 999,999. Every result is on the Scoville chart.
Ten different tastes
No. 5 Ghost is smoky and sweet with some fruit, and its heat builds slowly before it covers the whole mouth. It suits someone who finds habanero comfortable and wants the next step.
Chocolate Ghost, sold in the Chocolate Kit, is earthy, with a slow burn that lingers. Chocolate is the brown color of the ripe pod. There is no cacao in it.
Red Ghost, Green Ghost and Yellow Ghost are sold together in the Ghost Kit. Red is smoky and sweet with a slow, lasting burn. Green is grassy and herbal, the pepper picked before it ripens, with heat that creeps. Yellow is citrus and tropical fruit with a brighter, cleaner burn. Red vs. Yellow vs. Green Ghost compares the three.
White Ghost Scorpion starts crisp and citrusy, with a faint sweetness under the heat. It suits someone who likes ghost heat and wants a different flavor at the same level.
Pineapple Ghost is bright and tropical, with a pineapple sweetness and a burn that builds fast. Try it on seafood or tacos.
Peach Ghost opens soft and almost floral, with stone fruit and citrus. Try it on grilled shrimp.
Blood Ghost starts sweet, then shows dark fruit and a touch of smoke. Its heat climbs slowly and fades cleanly. It suits someone who likes the ghost name but found no. 5 too hot.
White Ghost is a creamy white pepper. The fruit shows up first and the heat builds later.
Blood Ghost, Peach Ghost, Pineapple Ghost, White Ghost Scorpion and White Ghost are limited releases, and each product page shows whether it is available.
Questions people ask
Which SpiceQuest ghost grinder is the hottest? Chocolate Ghost, which tested at 549,403 Scoville units. That is about 1.3 times no. 5 Ghost at 417,166.
Is every pepper with ghost in the name as hot as a ghost pepper? No. Against no. 5 Ghost at 417,166, five tested lower: Pineapple Ghost at 387,246, Green Ghost at 360,498, Peach Ghost at 321,199, Yellow Ghost at 285,998 and Blood Ghost at 269,593. Chocolate Ghost, Red Ghost and White Ghost Scorpion tested higher.