Tesco has announced plans to introduce the hottest British-bred chilli pepper – Armageddon – to its UK stores.
The retail giant claims Armageddon stands head to head with America's Carolina Reaper, the world’s hottest chilli, according to the Guinness Book of Records.
The chilli pepper measures 1.3 million Scoville Units, which is a few notches below the 1.5 million Scovilles recorded for the Carolina Reaper.
Scoville units are a measurement system for chilli pepper heat devised by American chemist Wilbur Scoville in 1908.
'Super-Hot Chillis'
Tesco chilli buyer, Nick Foulds, said, "The arrival of the incredibly potent Armageddon will join other legendary varieties such as the ‘Trinidad Scorpion’, ‘Bhut Jolokia’, ‘Komodo Dragon’ and of course the ‘Carolina Reaper’, among the super-hot chillis we’ve sold in recent years."
Armageddon is commercially grown in Blunham in Bedfordshire by the UK’s largest producer of chilli peppers, Salvatore Genovese, in a seven-acre farm.
'Fruity Taste'
Foulds added, "We chose it because of its wonderful fruity taste, which, added to its awesome strength, will create an unforgettable dish."
"But remember to be very economical with it – you only need a few tiny slivers," he cautioned.
The pepper will cost £1 for a 15-gram packet.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
