If you’re a fan of hot sauces, you’ve likely come across the term "Scoville scale." It’s the measurement often used to indicate how hot a chili or hot sauce is. But here at Poppamies, we’ve moved away from using Scoville readings for a very important reason: accuracy and transparency matter.
Why We Don’t Publish Scoville Readings
While the Scoville scale has its merits, it has increasingly become a tool for marketing rather than an accurate representation of chili heat. Here’s why we’ve chosen to leave it behind:
-
Misleading Measurements
The Scoville scale often uses the highest recorded value from a single dehydrated chili, rather than the average heat of the crop. For instance, a Carolina Reaper is often reported at 2,000,000 Scoville units—but fresh chilies contain over 90% water, meaning their actual heat is closer to 150,000–200,000 Scoville units. -
Hot Sauce Confusion
Many hot sauce makers claim their products have “1 million Scoville” heat because they use a chili that reaches that level in ideal conditions. But these numbers don’t represent the heat of the actual sauce. Instead, they’re calculated from the percentage of chili used in the recipe, which can be highly misleading. -
Focus on Sensation, Not Science
The competition for creating the “hottest chili” has often overshadowed the science, leading to inflated and inconsistent values. We believe the focus should be on the experience and enjoyment of the product, not exaggerated numbers.
Our Solution: A Simple and Honest 1-10 Scale
At Poppamies, we use an internationally recognized 1-10 scale to rate the heat of our hot sauces. Here’s how it works:
-
10 = Fresh Red Savina Habanero
The Red Savina Habanero was once the hottest chili in the world, and we use its heat as the benchmark for our scale. -
10+ and 10++
These indicate sauces that are hotter than the Red Savina, such as those containing Carolina Reaper or other intense chilies. -
11/10
Reserved for the Fire Demon, our hottest sauce, which is even spicier than fresh Carolina Reaper.
This scale is easy to understand, transparent, and based on real-world chili heat rather than theoretical or inflated numbers.
Hot Sauces That Bring the Heat
Here’s what our 1-10 scale looks like in action with some of our popular hot sauces:
- Mild and Flavorful (1-4): Perfect for those who enjoy a little spice but still want the flavor to shine through.
- Moderately Spicy (5-7): Great for adding a kick to your meals without overwhelming the taste buds.
- Intensely Hot (8-10++): For the brave, these sauces pack serious heat and are perfect for chili enthusiasts.
So Why It Matters
By moving to this simplified and honest scale, we aim to:
- Provide clarity: You’ll know exactly what to expect from our sauces.
- Avoid misleading claims: We’re committed to transparency and integrity in how we represent our products.
- Enhance your experience: Our focus is on creating delicious, high-quality sauces—not just chasing the title of “hottest.”
So, whether you’re a spice lover looking for a challenge or just want a hint of heat to enhance your meals, Poppamies Hot Sauces have something for everyone. And with our 1-10 scale, you can trust that the heat level is exactly as promised.