A no-BS guide to how hot your hot sauce actually is.
0 SHU
Bell pepper, banana pepper
This is the kids' table. Bell peppers. Banana peppers on a sub. You're here for crunch, not for heat. No judgment — everyone starts somewhere. Actually, a little judgment.
Example sauces: None really
1–2,500 SHU
Pepperoncini, poblano, Anaheim
You're dipping your toes in. Pepperoncini on your pizza, a splash of Tabasco on your eggs. It's warm. It's friendly. It's the "I like a little kick" zone. Welcome aboard.
Example sauces: Tabasco Original, Cholula, Frank's RedHot
2,500–8,000 SHU
Jalapeño, serrano, chipotle
Now we're cooking. Jalapeños, serranos, chipotles — this is where most people live and it's a great neighborhood. You can taste the pepper, feel the heat, and still hold a conversation.
Example sauces: Valentina, Huy Fong Sriracha, El Yucateco Green
8,000–100,000 SHU
Cayenne, tabasco pepper, Thai chili
Okay, you're serious. Cayenne, Thai chilies, the good stuff. This is where sauces start to fight back. Your forehead's sweating. Your lips are tingling. You're alive.
Example sauces: Crystal Extra Hot, Secret Aardvark, Yellowbird Habanero
100,000–350,000 SHU
Habanero, scotch bonnet, bird's eye
Habaneros, scotch bonnets — the beautiful, fruity peppers that also happen to rearrange your afternoon. You're not just eating heat at this level, you're experiencing it. Endorphins are flowing. Regret is optional.
Example sauces: Marie Sharp's Belizean Heat, Torchbearer Garlic Reaper, Queen Majesty Scotch Bonnet
350,000+ SHU
Ghost pepper, Carolina Reaper, Pepper X
Ghost peppers. Reapers. Pepper X. This is the deep end and there's no lifeguard. You've been warned, you don't care, and honestly? We respect it. Just have milk ready. And maybe a will.
Example sauces: Da Bomb Beyond Insanity, Puckerbutt Reaper Squeezins, The Last Dab
Sawce matches you with sauces based on your flavor profile and heat tolerance.
Get Early Access