Bhut Jolokia Yellow

Bhut Jolokia Yellow, also called Yellow Ghost Pepper or Yellow Bhut Jolokia, is a yellow-fruited colour variant of the traditional Bhut Jolokia chilli from Northeast India, particularly Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. It belongs to the species Capsicum chinense and shares lineage with the classic red ghost pepper.

This variant ripens from green to a bright yellow colour rather than red. Pod shape remains consistent with Bhut Jolokia characteristics, typically showing a wrinkled surface and elongated, irregular form.

The estimated heat range for Bhut Jolokia types, including yellow variants, is approximately 800 000–1 041 427 Scoville Heat Units. Some seller descriptions suggest the yellow form may be slightly milder than the red type, but no separate published laboratory testing specifically isolates the yellow variant’s Scoville measurement. The values cited align with documented ghost pepper heat ranges rather than independent lab data for this colour form.

Flavour descriptions from seed listings and grower accounts frequently note a fruity and slightly sweeter profile compared with the red Bhut Jolokia, though the pepper remains intensely hot. The perceived sweetness does not significantly reduce its classification within the super-hot category.

Bhut Jolokia as a cultivar was recognised globally when it was certified by Guinness World Records in 2007 as the world’s hottest chilli at the time. The yellow variant itself was not independently certified but is widely treated as a natural colour mutation or selected form within the same cultivar group.

There is no formal botanical registry entry or peer-reviewed publication specifically documenting Bhut Jolokia Yellow as a separate cultivar. It is recognised primarily through seed catalogues and grower communities as a colour variant of the established Bhut Jolokia line. Availability in commercial seed listings is often described as less common than the red form, contributing to its perceived rarity among growers.