The levels of a chemical compound known as capsaicin determine how hot a pepper feels.

View as a Web Page How Do You Measure the 'Heat' of a Pepper? Peppers can be found in a variety of dishes from salsa to salads, and they are known for adding flavor and often a kick of heat. It's not real heat but instead a burning sensation in the mouth. The level of "heat" depends on the type of pepper that is used. Peppers range from mild to very hot: The pimento and poblano peppers have small kicks, while the Dragon's Breath and Pepper X are currently the two hottest reported peppers. How can you tell how hot a pepper is without eating it first? A family of chemical compounds called capsaicinoids create the hot, burning feeling in your mouth and are mostly concentrated in the white lining of a pepper. The most abundant member of this family that is found in hot peppers is a compound called capsaicin. When you bite into a hot pepper or eat spicy foods, the capsaicin attaches to heat-sensing receptors in the mouth, releasing chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters that travel to the brain. These neurotransmitters trigger a false alarm that your mouth is on fire. It's a bodily response that can produce sweating and watery eyes but does not cause physical harm. Read More MORE FROM THIS SERIES How Do You Measure It? Much of the world around us would be a mystery without good measurements. Whether it's the depth of the ocean, the nutrients in your cereal, or the age of dinosaur fossils, measurements enable us to learn about our world and make good decisions about what to do in everyday life. In our "How Do You Measure It?" web series, we answer questions that will help you better understand how our modern world works — and why good measurements play an important role in your life. Read More

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