Capsaicin Heat Scale for Chillies
How the Scoville scale measures capsaicin in Indian chillies, with verified SHU bands for Byadgi and Guntur Sannam S4.
Scoville heat table
Chilli heat comes from capsaicinoids, reported in Scoville Heat Units (SHU). The Scoville figure is now measured by laboratory analysis (HPLC) rather than taste. Heat is independent of colour, which is measured separately on the ASTA scale.
| Chilli | SHU (Scoville) | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Byadgi | 8,000-15,000 | Colour chilli, mild heat |
| Guntur Sannam S4 | 35,000-45,000 | Workhorse heat with colour |
| Teja S17 | See note below | Very high heat, oleoresin |
How to use the scale
- SHU tracks capsaicinoid content. Byadgi at 8,000-15,000 SHU is a mild colour chilli; Guntur Sannam S4 at 35,000-45,000 SHU is the heat-and-colour workhorse.
- Teja S17 is prized for very high heat and oleoresin yield, but its Scoville figure is widely quoted without a verified source, so we do not print a number for it.
- Heat and colour are separate purchases. A chilli high in SHU is not necessarily high in ASTA colour, so specify both on the contract.
Frequently asked
How hot is Guntur chilli in Scoville units?
Guntur Sannam S4 runs 35,000-45,000 SHU, the workhorse Indian heat-and-colour chilli. Byadgi is much milder at 8,000-15,000 SHU and is bought for colour.
What is the Scoville scale?
It measures a chilli capsaicinoid content in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), now determined by lab analysis. Heat is separate from colour, which is measured on the ASTA scale.
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- Teja S17 Scoville rating
- Quoted very high across trade sources but with no Spices Board or lab-verified SHU figure, so no number is printed.
- Birds-eye chilli SHU
- A verified Scoville band for Indian birds-eye chilli is not in our set, so it is not tabulated.
Reviewed 16 July 2026.
Sources
- Spices Board of India — Export statistics· Tier 1, retrieved 2026-07-16