What is Cayenne Pepper 40M HU?

Cayenne Pepper 40M HU is ground Capsicum annuum standardized to 40,000 heat units. "HU" (heat units, also called Scoville Heat Units) is a measure of a pepper's heat, and standardizing to a fixed rating keeps the heat consistent across chile varieties, growing conditions, and batches.

About the plant

Cayenne belongs to the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and traces to the Americas. Its heat comes from capsaicin. At 40,000 HU this cayenne is roughly four to five times hotter than typical grocery-store cayenne (often around 8,000 to 30,000 HU); for reference, jalapenos run about 3,500 to 8,000 HU and habaneros around 100,000 to 350,000 HU. It is a mainstay of Mexican, Korean, Szechuan, and Cajun cooking and a workhorse in hot-sauce and rub making.

Related herbs

• Chili Pepper Flakes — crushed dried chilies for finishing and general culinary heat.

Cayenne Pepper 40M HU: form & sizes

We carry Cayenne Pepper 40M HU as ground dried pepper, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Cayenne Pepper 40M HU in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Cayenne Pepper 40M HU at a glance

Botanical name

Capsicum annuum

Family

Solanaceae

Native region

the Americas

Plant part

fruit (pepper)

Heat level

40,000 HU (Scoville Heat Units)

Heat-producing compound

Capsaicin

Form

ground dried pepper

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb