What Is Scoville (SHU) in Chilli?
Scoville Heat Units measure a chilli's pungency; here is where the main Indian grades sit.
What is Scoville (SHU) in chilli?
Scoville Heat Units (SHU) measure chilli pungency, driven by capsaicin. Guntur Sannam S4 sits at 35,000-45,000 SHU; Byadgi is mild at 8,000-15,000 and is bought for colour rather than heat.
SHU by Indian chilli grade
| Chilli | SHU | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Guntur Sannam S4 | 35,000-45,000 | Workhorse hot chilli |
| Byadgi | 8,000-15,000 | Mild, colour chilli |
Heat and colour are different specs
SHU tells you pungency; ASTA colour tells you the red. A buyer who needs heat writes a minimum SHU; a buyer who needs colour writes a minimum ASTA. The two do not move together, so specify whichever matters and, if both matter, specify both.
Teja S17 is widely described as very hot, but a verified SHU figure is not stated here (see gaps). Contract on a tested figure from the specific lot rather than a market reputation.
Frequently asked
How hot is Teja S17 chilli?
Teja is a hot Indian chilli widely quoted at high SHU, but no verified figure is stated here. Ask for a lab SHU result on the actual lot before contracting.
Sourcing this? Tell us the spice, grade and destination and we return a documented offer — vetted supply, QC oversight, and the test dossier your market needs.
Start a sourcing enquiry →What this page does not tell you
- Teja S17 SHU
- A specific Scoville number for Teja S17 is not verified in the sourced set, so none is stated. Rely on a tested lot figure.
Reviewed 16 July 2026.
Sources
- Spices Board of India — Export statistics· Tier 1, retrieved 2026-07-16