Scorpion Pepper vs Ghost Pepper: What’s the Difference? 

If you are interested in learning more about hot pepper varieties, you may be wondering what all the differences are between the scorpion pepper vs ghost pepper. Both of these peppers have been on the list of record-breakers in terms of their heat and spiciness levels, but are they related to one another, and what traits can you pay attention to in order to tell them apart? 

In this article, we will compare and contrast ghost peppers and scorpion peppers so that you can fully understand how they are similar and different from each other. We will address the physical appearance of these plants as well as what they are typically used for. Let’s get started and talk all about scorpion peppers and ghost peppers now!

Comparing Scorpion Pepper vs Ghost Pepper

Key Differences Between Scorpion Pepper vs Ghost Pepper

There are a number of key differences between scorpion peppers and ghost peppers. For example, ghost peppers are a hybrid pepper plant from two different species, while scorpion peppers are a pepper variety from one specific species. The ghost pepper looks more like a traditional pepper compared to the distinct shape of the scorpion pepper. Finally, ghost peppers originated in India, while scorpion peppers originated in the Caribbean.

Let’s go over all of these differences in more detail now.

Scorpion Pepper vs Ghost Pepper: Classification

Given just how many pepper varieties there are, it can be extremely difficult to know how they are classified. It is important to note that the Scorpion pepper is a variety of pepper from the habanero pepper species, while the ghost pepper is a hybrid pepper from two different pepper species. Ghost peppers are created from the habanero pepper species and a wild chili pepper species, making it different scientifically from the scorpion pepper.

Scorpion Pepper vs Ghost Pepper: Description

It can be difficult to tell pepper varieties apart at first, given how differently they grow and how many similar colors they come in. For example, the scorpion pepper and the ghost pepper come in many of the same colors, including red, orange, yellow, and black. However, the shape of both of these peppers makes them distinct from one another and will hopefully help you tell them apart. 

For example, one of the reasons the Scorpion pepper is named this is because of the way the pepper itself is shaped. Scorpion peppers have a distinct stinger or point at the bottom of each fruit, something that the ghost pepper does not have. In fact, ghost peppers have a more traditional pepper shape, and they are longer compared to the stout scorpion pepper overall. In addition, some ghost pepper varieties have bumpy or textured skin, but the scorpion pepper has a distinct texture more often than not. 

Scorpion Pepper vs Ghost Pepper: Uses

The ghost pepper and the scorpion pepper can be used interchangeably for a number of things, so long as you are comfortable with spicy food! Both of these pepper varieties are used culinarily to spice up dishes and add heat to recipes, often more than people anticipate. However, depending on the variety, some scorpion peppers are spicier than the ghost pepper overall, so use with caution. 

Scorpion Pepper vs Ghost Pepper: Origin and How to Grow

If you are interested in growing either of these two pepper varieties in your own backyard, the good news is, they have very similar needs to each other. While the ghost pepper plant tends to germinate faster than the scorpion pepper plant, both of these pepper varieties prefer full sun and warm weather. This is likely due to their locations of origin, with the scorpion pepper originating in the Caribbean and the ghost pepper originating in India. 

Scorpion Pepper vs Ghost Pepper: Scoville Scale

The reason that most people choose to cook with both the Scorpion pepper and the ghost pepper is most definitely because they enjoy spicy foods. But which pepper is spicier than the other, and how spicy is this exactly? Well, the ghost pepper is spicier than the scorpion pepper on average, but there are some varieties of scorpion pepper that win in terms of their Scoville rating against the ghost pepper. 

For example, the average ghost pepper ranks roughly 1 million on the Scoville scale, while scorpion peppers range in heat, from 300000 to over 1.2 million on the Scoville scale. This is a huge range, and the spiciest scorpion pepper has to be the Carolina Reaper. However, more hybrid peppers are currently in development, as the world record holder for the spiciest pepper is always in flux!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/_jure