Capoman,

Where did the seed package come from? "Some" vendors are really resellers, ie. they get their seed from numerous sources and it's highly probable after they mix them together you'll get seeds from two or more sources in one package.

I've only purchased Bhut Jolokia seeds from NMSU CPI and they've all grown with the classic blistered skin. The only Jokokia variety I've grown with smoother skin were the Dorset Nagas.

I got them from Richters herbs. I've heard of others that have had similar pheno variations as well.

Richters is selling Bhuts now???

You have mail.

I grew three Bhuts last year. Two were pretty classic but one had much lighter colored (unripe) pods, almost a yellow-green instead of the classic green. They were also more "bumpy" than the others and the one plant was significantly smaller than the other two. All three were grown side by side. I bought the seeds from PepperJoes. As for heat and taste, I know they were very similar but the only thing I know for sure is they both burn the hell out of my mouth.
Bruce

Yes, the yellow green unripe pods was the other variant I had too. Makes you wonder the original source. Ottawa says he hasn't seen these variations from NMSU. I'd like to hear from more posters on what/where they have seen.

Here are pictures of the two color variations I had last year.

These are the normal ones:

{{gwi:1158612}}

These are the "yellowish" ones:

{{gwi:1158613}}

Bruce

One and only one type for me. I've grown them for about 3 years now and they are always the darker green color that turns bright orangey red when ripe. I believe that you have some crossed up seed.

DarJones

Yes, I had both of those exactly, as well as the third one that was smoother and more cylindrical. Interesting. Sounds like they may have come from the same genetics. There must be some recessive genes at play or some crossing. I'd be curious about more NMSU buyers to see if they have seen stabilty as Ottawa has.

Bruce,

Your peppers (from the pictures) look a little stunted length wise. The Bhuts and Bihs I've grown are longer and quite blistered.

Darjones, what was your seed source?

These Bhuts I have been growing last two years and growing this year more bumpy than smooth, the ones on the plate could have been a bit more red if I left them on longer, but was itching to make em into hotsauce

habjolokia, that picture is the true illustration of a "hot plate"!

LOL, I wish I still had some of my homemade Bhut hot sauce left. This season more plants = more peppers = more for the winter to hold me over until the next season

I got seed from a trade with cmpman1974 and he got seed direct from nmsu iirc.

habjo, that is a nice plate of peppers. It illustrates the size and shape and orangey/red color of a Bhut.

DarJones

In my experience, the Bhut and the Bih are blistered, elongated, and pointy.
The Naga Morich and the Naga Dorset, however, were smoother, shorter, and less pointy.
Bruce, your first pic looks more like the Nagas that I grew.

My Bhuts were identical to Ottawa's.

Josh

Dang, i thought I had all Bhuts.

These are the two types I got last year. Horizontal ones on the left and verticle ones on the right. Which is which:

{{gwi:1158617}}

{{gwi:1158618}}

Bruce

Horizontal Naga, Verticle Bhuts. Those are excellent peppers I hope this season is just as good for you in pod output. Bottom pic top Bhut bottom Naga.

Mark

Bruce,
You sent me some "bhut" seeds back in January, some from isolated blossoms some non-iso.

Do you happen to recall which of your plants the seeds were from?

I was wondering if I have the nagas or the bhuts.

Thanks again for the seeds, they all sprouted and are healthy.

Rob

Rob, and to all the others I send seed to, it was probably the Naga.

I wish I had known this last year. I posted pics several times wondering why I had two different looking pods. No one mentioned a possible seed issue. And I guess I just assumed they would be true since I bought them from PEPPERJOE.com. Been hearing some bad stuff about their business so never again. I only had one plant that produced pods like Vertical peppers and I assumed there was something wrong with that one plant so I did not save any seeds from it. Turns out, it was the one true plant.

Sorry to anyone out there that I sent seeds to labeled as Bhut Jolokia.
Bruce

Bruce,

Don't worry at all about the mix up.

You still did a good thing for folks you didn't even know.

Nagas, bhuts...both closely related. From what I understand the only difference is the shape of the pods. Since I've never grown either plant, I'm happy to try whichever you sent.

Rob

Bruce, did you actually taste them? I think I got the same ones you did, and the ones everyone thinks are Nagas, I found were the best tasting ones anyway. So even if we didn't get all Bhuts, we did get a very tasty pepper worth eating. I actually saved a clone off one of those plants since I liked the peppers so much. Bhut or not, I still intend to grow it out for eating. It's not much different in heat then the others, but I did find it tasted the best.

Thanks guys. Yes, I tasted a small piece of one. I can't comment on the taste though. I don't remember anything about the taste. Just the burn.
Bruce

I must agree that the Naga actually has a better taste, I am growing four types of nagas this year after how much I enjoyed my morich last year,this year i decided to grow a morich, a dorsett, a bombay and a chocolate, and as far as heat goes the Nagas generally come in between 800k and 900k so u r not giving up much heat in exchange for better flavor, JMO
paul

I am a huge fan of the Bhut and it's flavor. I have not grown them before and now thanks to all the Naga fans I want to grow next season to compare taste.

Hey Bruce, don't eat them by themselves. Make sure you cut them up and mix them with a fresh salsa, or slices for burgers, or dice with spaghetti sauces, or rings for Bloody Caesar's etc. These are all too hot to heat whole if you really want to taste them. They also have an amazing aroma when you cut them up and put them in something. Please don't judge the superhots, by taking a bite out of one. You are right, you won't taste much for the heat. The funny part is, the heat is much reduced, and the flavor is much enhanced once you mix it in with other food. That's where they really stand out. And that aroma........ahhhhh.....mmmmmm

I agree, Capo! Well said.
My friends and I joke about the flavors of these superhots....we try to taste/analyze
the flavor of the fresh peppers in the first 10 - 30 seconds of chewing the pod...because,
invariably, that heat will begin to overwhelm. That incredible aroma, however, does tend
to fill the sinuses and linger despite the onset of the heat.

I think the Naga Dorset is probably a more versatile pepper, although that's entirely subjective.
I actually prefer the lighter, brighter, more citrusy taste and aroma of the Bhut, as opposed to what
I considered the slightly heavier, more Hab-like flavor of the Dorset. However, that heavier flavor
seemed to work well with more dishes. Entirely subjective, of course!

Josh

I still can't get past Habaneros for seasoning stuff. Anything hotter and either it isn't enough to taste or it is too hot to taste.

Bruce

Bruce - Smoke 'em.

"Recipe" (rough)

Cut the peppers in half, clean out seeds and some of the ribs
Fill with cream cheese and wrap in bacon, secure with a toothpick
Put on a smoker for 45-60 minutes @ ~ 250 F, you're looking for the bacon to be "done" more than a specific time, thinner bacon will be ready faster.
Enjoy!

I made some with Jalapeno and Habanero peppers, it was like eating candy. Something about the combination of ingredients and smoke removes a huge portion of the heat and really lets the flavor come out.

Esox-

The seeds I got from you were the best I have ever grown. I got Bhut and an orange habanero.They did have a very bumpy skin so I am thinking they were bhut rather than naga.

There are more pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nancybeetoo/tags/peppers/

Many thanks!

Wow, those are what I would call a crazy lookin' hybrid!

Josh

Bruce, since your Naga's were next to your Bhut do you think it's a naga Bhut cross?

Mark