The Scoville Scale Growing Chillies
The Scoville Scale: Growing Chillies
Chillies are a great way to add depth and flavor to a variety of dishes. But how do you know how hot a particular chilli is? The Scoville scale assigns a measure of pungency (spiciness), or ‘heat’, to numerous chillies, so you know exactly how much you can handle.
What is the Scoville Scale?
The Scoville scale is used to measure the heat of a chilli pepper. It was created by the American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville in 1912, and measures the amount of heat in a chilli pepper with a measure called Scoville Heat Units (SHU). A pepper is given an SHU score based on how much capsaicin (the compound that gives a chilli pepper its heat) it contains.
Growing Chillies
Growing your own chillies is a great way to get an abundance of flavours and heats in your meals. Here is a guide to growing your own chillies, and tips on getting the right flavour and heat.
- Choose your variety: The variety of chilli you choose will determine the flavour and heat. Consider whether you want a mild or a hot chilli, and do some research to find a variety that suits your tastes.
- Get the right soil: Chillies need a soil that is rich in organic matter, such as compost or manure, to get the best growth and fruit. Make sure the soil drains well, so you don’t have waterlogging.
- Give them sun and water: Chillies need about 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, and need to be watered regularly. Be careful not to over water, otherwise you risk root rot.
- Harvest and enjoy!: Once your chillies are ripe, you can pick them and start to use them in your meals. Remember to check their score on the Scoville scale to determine how much heat they will bring!
Conclusion
Growing chillies is a great way to add a unique flavour and heat to your dishes. With the Scoville scale, you can easily determine which variety to buy or grow and how much heat to expect your chillies to bring. So get growing and enjoy the spices!
