Wilbur Scoville

Wilbur Scoville was a scientist who created the Scoville scale, a measurement system for identifying the spiciness or heat of chili peppers and related foods. He developed this scale in 1912 by evaluating the amount of capsaicin—the compound responsible for heat—in peppers. The higher the Scoville rating, the hotter the pepper. This scale helps people compare the pungency of different peppers, from mild varieties like bell peppers (score of zero) to extremely hot ones like the Carolina Reaper (hundreds of thousands or millions of Scoville units). It's a useful tool for food enthusiasts and producers to gauge and communicate heat levels.