If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush and an added kick to your meals, the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper packs quite a punch. Known as one of the hottest in the world, this pepper’s name definitely does it justice.
Keep reading to learn all about what this pepper looks like, how to use it in recipes, and even how to grow your own at home.
Looking for Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper seeds? Check availability.
Characteristics of the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper
Size
The scorpion pepper plant will grow up to three feet tall and produce peppers that are one to two inches long.
Shape
The Butch T variety of the Trinidad Scorpion pepper has a unique and irregular shape. The pepper hangs from a thin stem, and is best described as short, stout, and full of lumps and creases.
Color
This pepper is a bright fiery shade of red with a small green stem.
How They Taste
Aside from the noticeable heat, these peppers have a floral, citrusy, and fruity flavor, creating the perfect sweet and hot combination.
Trinidad Scorpion Bush T Pepper Health Benefits
You may be surprised to learn that these peppers have a variety of health benefits. They are rich in vitamin C which helps boost the immune system.
Surprisingly, hot peppers are also great for your digestive health; the heat kick will cause a positive rush of endorphins. This helps to boost your mood and make you feel happy (once you get past the pain).
Important Precautions
Although healthy, you should know that the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper can be dangerous.
Coming in at 1,463,700 Scoville heat units, It’s often considered the hottest pepper in the world, and should be handled with extreme care. (For reference, a jalapeno ranks between 2,000-5,000).
Proper preparation, which is discussed below, is crucial, as eating this pepper raw will likely cause blistering in your mouth and throat. You should also always wear gloves when handling them, as the oils from the pepper can irritate the skin.
Ways to Enjoy
The Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper can be enjoyed in many ways, but make sure to use it sparingly! No matter how you choose to use it, make sure you follow these important preparation instructions:
- Always rinse the pepper with warm water.
- You can soak it in hot water for 10 minutes to rehydrate if dehydrated.
- You can add it to any recipe, as long as it cooks for a minimum of 10 minutes.
Homemade Hot Sauce
This pepper is a great choice to spice up a homemade hot sauce. Using the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper as your “superhot chili pepper,” follow this recipe to make the Superhot Hot Sauce and spice up any of your favorite dishes.
Scorpion Pepper Burgers
Try mixing the Butch T Scorpion Pepper into your hamburger meat for a new and flavorful addition to your cookout.
Cook the beef with your favorite spices, add your favorite toppings, and you’ll have the perfect Scorching Scorpion Cheeseburger.
Spicy Scorpion Salsa
With origins from Trinidad and Tobago, the Scorpion Butch T Pepper is a great addition to spice up your favorite salsa. Simply add a thin slice of the pepper (or just a few of its seeds) to our Delicious and Easy Tomato Salsa Recipe, and you’ll have a fiery, Spicy Scorpion Salsa.
Buying the Peppers
Where to Buy the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper
You’re not likely to find these peppers in your regular grocery store produce section due to their danger. Here are some places we’ve found that sell the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper products online.
Visit Amazon, where you’ll find the pepper available in dried powder form as Pepper Joe’s Chili Powder and in mash form as Magic Plant Farms’ Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper Mash.
Growing Your Own
Growing Scorpion Butch T peppers is an easy and fun project you can do at home. Outlined below are some tips and information to help you get started.
Soil
In general, scorpion peppers thrive in soil that is moist but not drenched with water. A solid guideline would be to use about three quarts of water twice a week.
You can start with your plants in a germination tray indoors, but try to keep the temperature of the soil between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sunlight
The seeds should be placed somewhere that is warm and bright but out of direct sunlight. Once the seedlings emerge (about 7 to 21 days), transfer them to somewhere where they will get eight to ten hours of direct sunlight daily.
If it’s cold outside, the seedlings can be kept inside. They won’t survive in temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Care Tips
Maintaining a gentle breeze from a fan during the initial growth period will help strengthen the plant’s stems and get them ready for transplant.
In general, the warmer the climate, the hotter the peppers. To maximize the heat of your peppers, use less water when the plants start to grow.
Harvesting
Extremely hot peppers take time to grow, so patience is key. It can take anywhere from 90 to 120 days to produce fruit.
The peppers will start out green, then change to yellow, and finally red when they’re ready to be picked.
When ready to harvest, wear gloves to protect your skin, and simply pull the peppers off the plant and store them however you like.
Buying Seeds
To buy your Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper seeds, we recommend purchasing from Amazon.
When buying, make sure to note that you’re getting the Butch T strain of the Scorpion pepper. To learn more about its parent strain, check out our blog post on the Trinidad Scorpion.
Wrapping up the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper
Although not for the faint of heart, the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper can be a delicious addition to spice up your favorite foods. With its bright red color, descriptive name, and sweet and spicy flavors, this pepper is sure to pack a punch.
Visit our Pepper Plants page to learn more about the original Trinidad Scorpion and explore other pepper varieties, too.