Chile Pepper Fun Fact - The Ghost Pepper  

Why Is a Ghost Pepper Called a Ghost Pepper? 

The word "bhut" means "ghost", given from the Bhutias people, possibly because the heat sneaks up on you like a ghost. The ghost pepper is also known by the following names - Naga Jolokia, Bhut Jolokia, Bih jolokia, Nagahari, Raja Mircha, Raja chilli, Borbih jolokiai or Ghost Chili. Note: "Naga" means "Cobra Snake" in Sanskrit. 

The ghost pepper was in the running for the hottest pepper in the world for quite some time - in fact, it actually held the Guinness Book of World Record's record for the world's hottest pepper from 2007 until 2010. The bhut jolokia is a naturally growing pepper that can be found primarily in northeastern India and neighboring Bangladesh. However, species can also be found in Sri Lanka occasionally. Due to the fact that "bhut" means "ghost" in the Assam language, this pepper is often called the "ghost pepper," in the Western world. These peppers have dented skin that is very thin and easy to tear.