Spice
Scotch Bonnet
A tier
Scotch bonnet is the Caribbean chinense chilli—bonnet-shaped, fruity, and very hot—essential to Jamaican jerk, pepper sauces, and countless island stews. Flavour is slightly sweeter and more tropical than many orange habaneros. Use whole in stews and remove before service for controlled heat, or mince carefully for sauces. Substituting habanero works with slight aroma differences. Fresh preferred over dried.
Track this ingredient
Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
DriedFlakeFreshPickledPowderRoastedSauceSmoked
Traits
Bonnet ShapeCaribbeanFruityFruity HotJerkSweet HeatVery Hot
History
JM
Bonnet-type chillies integrated into Caribbean Creole cookery.
JM
Scotch bonnet became central to Jamaican seasoning traditions.
Diaspora groceries spread Scotch bonnets to London and beyond.
Jerk globalisation locked Scotch bonnet’s culinary fame.