Sara Ragoonan Trinidad Scorpion Long Chilli (SRTSL)

This formidable pepper hails from the sun-drenched shores of Trinidad, an island renowned for producing some of the world's most intense chillies. Unlike a planned-out crossbreed, this pepper is a natural landrace variant, a testament to the incredible biodiversity of the island. It gets its name from Sara Ragoonan, a celebrated farmer in Trinidad who was instrumental in cultivating and preserving this specific, elongated variety of the fearsome Trinidad Scorpion. It’s a pepper born from tradition and nurtured by local expertise.

Don't let its graceful shape fool you; this pepper is pure fire! The Sara Ragoonan Trinidad Scorpion Long boasts a distinctive and elegant appearance. The pods are noticeably longer and more slender than their more squat Scorpion relatives, often growing to an impressive 6-8 cm in length. They have a wrinkled, bumpy skin that tapers down to the infamous and wickedly sharp "stinger" or tail, the signature of a Scorpion pepper. The pods undergo a beautiful ripening process, starting from a vibrant green and maturing into a glorious, fiery red.

Now, let's talk about the experience. The flavour is surprisingly fruity and floral, a characteristic trait of its Capsicum chinense family. You'll get a brief, tantalizing moment to appreciate these delicate notes before the heat apocalypse begins! This is a "superhot" pepper, and it does not mess around. While official Scoville ratings vary, you can expect it to pack a punch in the same league as other Scorpions, easily soaring above 1 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU). The heat is a "stinger" in every sense, building intensely and lingering for a long, long time.

Given its ferocious heat, this pepper is for the experienced chillihead. It's used sparingly to create volcanically hot sauces, marinades, and chilli powders. A tiny sliver can add immense heat and a fruity undertone to a large pot of curry or stew. Extreme caution (including wearing gloves!) is always recommended when handling this powerhouse.

The Sara Ragoonan Trinidad Scorpion Long grows on a robust and productive plant belonging to the Capsicum chinense genus. This plant is a fantastic grower, typically forming a bushy shrub that can reach a height of over a meter in a good season. It has large, lush green leaves and a sprawling habit, producing a surprisingly abundant crop of the fiery red stingers, which hang from the branches like dangerous, glistening jewels.

What makes the Sara Ragoonan variant so special is its "landrace" status. It hasn't been selectively bred in a lab for a specific trait but has instead adapted and evolved naturally in the unique Trinidadian climate over generations. This gives it a genetic purity and a direct link to the very roots of the superhot pepper phenomenon. Growing a Sara Ragoonan Trinidad Scorpion Long is like cultivating a living piece of chilli history, a true taste of the wild, untamed spirit of Trinidad.

Due to its astonishing heat, extreme caution is non-negotiable. Always wear protective gloves and eyewear, and avoid any direct contact with skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Use in incredibly small quantities and with the utmost respect. Not recommended for casual consumption.