Trinidad Scorpion 'Butch T' Chilli

Our story begins down under in Australia, where chilli-head Neil Smith from The Hippy Seed Company was experimenting with a Trinidad Scorpion pepper. He passed some seeds to Butch Taylor of Zydeco Hot Sauce in Mississippi, USA. Butch, a true chilli whisperer, noticed one plant was producing pods that were particularly gnarly and ridiculously hot. By selectively saving seeds from this standout plant, he cultivated and stabilized a new, even more ferocious version of the Scorpion. In his honour, it was crowned the "Trinidad Scorpion Butch T," a name that now echoes in the halls of chilli fame!

The Trinidad Scorpion Butch T is a pepper that looks as menacing as its name suggests. These fiery pods are roughly golf-ball sized, typically 1 to 2 inches long and wide, with a wrinkled, bumpy, and often lumpy skin that glows a brilliant, fire-engine red when mature. The real giveaway, and where it gets its name, is the distinctive pointy tail that mimics the stinger of a scorpion. It’s nature’s little warning sign, playfully hinting at the volcanic power held within!

But don't let its intimidating looks fool you entirely. If you can get past the heat, you'll discover a surprisingly fruity and almost sweet flavour lurking beneath the fire. Many describe it as having citrusy or even floral undertones.

Now, let's talk about the heat. For a glorious period in 2011, the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T held the Guinness World Record for the hottest chilli pepper on the planet. It clocks in at a staggering 1,463,700 Scoville Heat Units (SHUs)! To put that in perspective, a feisty Jalapeño sits at a mere 2,500-8,000 SHUs. This pepper isn't just hot; it's a full-blown sensory explosion. Due to this extreme heat, it's rarely used whole in cooking. Instead, it’s the undisputed king of super-hot sauces, where a tiny amount can ignite an entire cauldron of liquid fire. It's also fantastic for creating mind-blowingly spicy chilli powders and infused oils. A word to the wise: always, always handle this pepper with gloves!

The Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper grows on a lush and vigorous plant belonging to the Capsicum chinense species, a family famous for housing the world's hottest peppers. The plant itself is quite a handsome specimen, growing into a bushy shrub that can reach between 3 to 4 feet in height. It boasts large, green, ovate leaves that create a dense canopy, providing the perfect shade for the fiery red pods developing beneath.

One of the most fascinating details about the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T is the sheer variability of its scorpion-like tail. While the tail is its signature feature, its prominence can vary from pepper to pepper on the very same plant. Some will have a long, elegant stinger, while others might have a shorter, more nubby one. It’s this little quirk that gives each pepper its own individual, fiery character, making every harvest a delightful and slightly dangerous treasure hunt. So, if you're a thrill-seeker with a love for extreme heat and a touch of fruity flavour, the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T is the ultimate chilli challenge!

Quantity of Seeds	10 seeds per packet
Origin	Native to Trinidad and Tobago, this specific strain was popularised by Butch Taylor (hence the "Butch T")
Genus	Capsicum chinense
Scoville Rating/Heat Level	Ranges from 1,000,000 to 1,463,700 SHU A true superhot — not for casual heat seekers. This pepper packs a brutal punch that intensifies over time
Plant Size	he Trinidad Scorpion Butch T plant is a vigorous and moderately sized grower, typically reaching a height of 60-100 cm (24-40 inches). It develops a sturdy, branching structure capable of supporting a good yield of its uniquely shaped pods.
Pod Size	The pods themselves are unmistakable: they are typically 4-6 cm (1.6-2.4 inches) in length and 3-4 cm (1.2-1.6 inches) in diameter, ripening from green to a vibrant, glossy red. Their most distinctive feature is the small, pointed "scorpion's tail" extension at the blossom end, giving the chilli its characteristic name. The skin is often bumpy and wrinkled, indicative of its high capsaicin content.
Flavour	Despite its mind-blowing heat, the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T offers a surprisingly complex and fruity flavour profile. Before the overwhelming heat takes over, you'll detect distinct tropical fruit notes, often described as having hints of apricot, orange, or cherry. This initial sweetness provides a fascinating contrast to the intense fire that quickly follows. Its robust flavour makes it an excellent, albeit extremely potent, ingredient for crafting fiery hot sauces, potent chilli powders, or for adding an unparalleled heat kick to stews, curries, or extreme chilli challenges.
Growing Conditions