Are Habaneros and Scotch Bonnets the same? If you are a spice lover then you might know about these scotch bonnet and habanero peppers that are among the hottest categories. These peppers often make people confused due to a lot of similarities they both hold. The scotch bonnet peppers and the habanero peppers have similar shapes and tastes. Just not that both plants have the same harvesting time. If you are confused as well as what is the difference between the scotch bonnet and habanero peppers this article is for you and clears your doubts.
Quick takeaways:
- Scotch bonnet and habanero peppers are hot peppers that you can grow even in hotter places that belong to the capsicum group and the same genus means there are a lot of similar things between them.
- These both are spicier. The main difference is that the scotch bonnet originated in the Jamaican area whereas the habanero peppers in Mexico.
- There is a slight difference you will see in the shape of both peppers on watching keenly.
- The scotch bonnet has a spherical shape while the habanero has an elliptical shape with one end pointed like a drop.
Which is spicier? Scotch Bonnet or Habanero Peppers
Both the peppers have the same SHU( Scoville heat units) which is 100,000 to 350,000 SHU. So it is a bit hard to say which is spicier. The habanero having a little hint of bitterness makes the eater feel spicier. The scotch bonnet peppers have little sugar. Though it still feels spicy, it is less spicy compared to the former. Habanero peppers are spicier. But keep this in mind that they both have the same level of spice but just due to little bitterness the habanero took the leash.
What are Scotch Bonnets?
Scotch bonnet peppers are also called Bonney peppers or Caribbean red peppers due to their wide usage in the Caribbean region. Also, they are used commonly in west African areas. These peppers belong to the chili pepper group and look a lot like tam o’ shanter hats. The young scotch bonnet peppers are green in color which on maturity transform to a berry red color.
| Common Names: | Scotch Bonnet: Goat pepper, Martinique pepper, Scotty Bon, Bonney pepper | Habanero: Chile Habanero |
| Scoville Heat Units (SHU): | Scotch Bonnet: 100,000 to 350,000 | Orange Habanero: 150,000 to 325,000 |
| Capsicum Species: | Capsicum chinense |
| Days To Harvest: | Scotch Bonnet: 120 days | Habanero: 75 to 110 days |
| Size: | Scotch Bonnet: 1 to 2.5 in (2.5 to 6.4 cm) peppers; 1 to 1.5 ft (0.3 to 0.5 m) plants | Habanero: 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) long & 1.5 in (4 cm) wide peppers; 2-5+ ft (0.6-1.5m) tall plants |
| Flavor: | Scotch Bonnet: sweet, tropical, spicy | Habanero: fruity, spicy, floral aftertaste |
| Culinary Uses: | Scotch Bonnet: Caribbean cuisine, jerk recipes, seasoning meat & stews | Habanero: Yucatecan cuisine, hot sauces, salsas |
What are Habanero Peppers?
The habaneros just like the scotch bonnet belongs to the capsicum genus. These peppers turn from green to orange and red depending on the type. The habaneros have a similar spice to that of scotch bonnets.
To know more about the plant world, you may also read related articles, Can I grow Jalapeno Peppers in a Pot? (Easy & Tested Tips)
Are Habaneros and Scotch Bonnets the same? -What are the differences between Scotch Bonnet Peppers and Habanero Peppers?
On the basis of popularity
The habanero peppers are more popular than the scotch bonnet peppers. The habanero sauces are searched more by people in markets, on search engines, etc.
On the basis of taste
The habanero peppers and scotch bonnet peppers are almost similar in spice but there is a mild difference between the flavors of these two. The habanero peppers have a smoky flavor with sweetness in it. One also gets a hint of fruit to floral smell in the habanero peppers. While the scotch bonnet peppers have a sweet flavor with a little hint of floral fragrance in them.
On the basis of Appearance
The habanero and scotch bonnet have again a mild difference between their shoes but yes there is a difference! The habanero pepper has one side rounded while the other is pointed and is more like a teardrop or lantern-like shape whereas the scotch bonnet peppers are not there pointed and are more like oval or pumpkin-like but in a rounded way.
On the basis of Availability
Both of these peppers are easily available where they originated like for habanero peppers Mexico have them naturally whereas scotch. Onnet peppers are easily available in Caribbean areas and are highly popular with that population. These peppers are now available in many supermarkets due to gaining popularity.
Uses and Health Benefits:
Uses:
These are the peppers that are being used worldwide for making dishes such as for preparing hot sauces and other cuisines. The Scotch bonnet peppers are widely used in Western African and Caribbean dishes for example in rice, beans, and beef patties. The habanero peppers are also used in different types of recipes. Another benefit is that you can replace this series with each other like using scotch bonnet in place of habanero peppers and vice versa.
Some other uses of these peppers are such as:
- To use them in suits and dishes you need to slice the peppers.
- For using the pepper you need to blend them properly in stews and marinades.
- If you want to give them for a long time you need to simmer them at low heat.
- You can use them in raw conditions in marinades.
Health Benefits:
The following are some health benefits of using these peppers:
- Both are able to provide the same nutritional value but to make a difference The Scotch bonnets have a little more percentage. Using Scotch bonnet benefits cancer-preventing chemicals, for example, phytochemicals and other heart disease-preventing substances.
- These peppers also contain Vitamin C which helps in blood pressure modulation.
Habanero Pepper Varieties:
The following are some habanero pepper varieties:
Orange Habanero:
- These are the peppers that are used to grow in Yucatan, Mexico.
- They are used to bloom with fruits and flowers having a lot of heat.
- They are basically used traditionally as ripe or unripe peppers in Yucatecan cuisine.
Red Savina Habanero:
- These are peppers that were once considered the hottest pepper in the world and still it’s the hottest pepper.
- It does consider an average heat of about 250,000 SHU to 500,000 SHU.
- These peppers are over 100 times hotter than the jalapeno peppers.
Caribbean Red Habanero:
- The peppers are more floral when compared to its orange cousin.
- You only need to plant one to two plants which is enough for growing peppers in your garden.
Scotch Bonnet Pepper Varieties:
MOA Scotch Bonnet:
- Here MOA stands for Ministry of Agriculture which is the gold standard for scotch bonnet.
- These peppers are used to go under the selection process for quality checks.
- They do have different varieties of color such as yellow, orange, or red.
- The taste of these peppers is fruity, sweet, and hot also.
Scotch Bonnet Freeport:
- It is considered one of the most popular Scotch bonnet pepper varieties.
- These are peppers that originated from the Bahamas.
- These are the varieties that are used to produce lots of rooting Orange pods which are used to grow up to 3 feet tall.
Sweet Bonnet:
- These are the scotch bonnet varieties which have less heat than Jalapeno peppers.
- They do have a flat-topped and pointy bottom with smoky notes.
Concluding lines
We hope this article was useful to you in understanding the difference between scotch bonnet peppers and habanero peppers. Till now you might have understood that there is such a little difference between the scotch bonnet peppers and habanero peppers. Though the habanero peppers are the most popular ones and more searched than scotch bonnet peppers. We are helping to answer your queries and questions. Do let us know in case you need any help. Happy growing and happy curiosity!
FAQ‘s
What is the closest thing to a scotch bonnet pepper?
Jalapeno peppers, pequin pepper, serrano pepper, and habanero pepper are closely linked peppers looking similar to scratch bonnet pepper.
What is hotter scotch bonnet or jalapeno?
The habanero peppers are about 40 times hotter than the scotch bonnet peppers. Though both peppers have 100,000 to 350,000 SHU units.
What do you use scotch bonnets for?
Scotch bonnets are popularly used to make spicy sauces that will give smoky flavor and sweetness as well. The flavor is not that complex but the spice level is high. They are also to dress the meats or fish before the roasting.
