OFFICIAL "HOLY JOLOKIA SAUCE"

Monday, May 4, 2009

NMSU inks hot deal on world’s spiciest pepperNew Mexico Business Weekly

The Chile Pepper Institute at New Mexico State University has partnered with a private company to create a hot sauce with the world’s hottest chile pepper.

It’s the first time the Institute has joined with a private firm to produce a product. The Holy Jolokia sauce is produced by CaJohns Fiery Foods, based in Columbus, Ohio, and is made from the Bhut Jolokia pepper, which the Institute and the Guinness Book of Records certify is the hottest pepper on the planet.

Paul Bosland, director of the Chile Pepper Institute, said the new product will help further cement New Mexico as the chile capital of the world.

The Bhut Jolokia chiles are grown in India and their reputation has boosted production in that country by more than 25 percent, according to NMSU officials.

The pepper has more than one million Scoville Heat Units, which makes it nearly twice as hot as the Red Savina, the pepper which once held the hottest crown.

New Mexico green chile contains about 1,500 Scoville Heat Units. An average jalapeño has about 10,000.

The 5-ounce bottles of Holy Jolokia retail for $10 and a portion of the sales will help fund research and education at the Chile Pepper Institute. The Institute is the only organization devoted to education, research and archiving information on chile peppers. Plans are in the works to raise $10 million for an endowed chair in the institute and establish a new facility with a tourist venue that will include accommodations for conferences and teaching, and a demonstration garden and greenhouse.

With thanks from net