Black Scorpion Tongue Pepper Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses

The Black Scorpion Tongue is an intriguing pepper variety originating from the United States. It’s an ornamental pepper, known for its striking appearance and vibrant color transitions from dark purple to red. It has a heat profile ranging from medium to hot (50,000 to 100,000 Scoville heat units or SHU). And, with a unique flavor that hints at fruitiness (an apple-like sweetness) and floral notes, the Black Scorpion Tongue holds its own in the kitchen, too, particularly in salsas and sauces.

How hot is the Black Scorpion Tongue pepper?

Don’t let the “scorpion” in the name fool you. The Black Scorpion Tongue is not the same as the infamous scorpion peppers (with their 1,000,000+ SHU) at the upper end of the Scoville scale. Its spiciness is more akin to some of the most popular culinary chilies out there.

The Black Scorpion Tongue ranges from 50,000 and 100,000 Scoville heat units. This heat level makes it significantly hotter than jalapeños (2,500 to 8,000 SHU), roughly 6 to 40 times hotter depending on the peppers compared. But it sits in a range that true spicy food fans love. Its floor is that of the hottest possible cayenne (30,000 to 50,000 SHU) and its ceiling is that of the mildest possible habanero (100,000 to 350,000 SHU). This range of heat is the same as you find with the popular Thai pepper, so its spiciness has plenty of use cases in the kitchen among true heat seekers.

The heat here is known to linger (a similar effect to that of ghost peppers), so the spiciness can feel more potent than its actual range. Just keep that in mind when choosing to cook with or grow this chili.

What do they look like and taste like?

Visually, the Black Scorpion Tongue pepper is striking, with dark purple pods (nearly black) that ripen to a deep red. Some pods may display unique black striping or blotches when exposed to intense sunlight during ripening. The plant itself grows tall, reaching heights of 2 to 3 feet, and produces a bountiful harvest of small pods measuring approximately 1.5 inches long and 0.75 inches wide. The pods grow and mature at varying rates, so the plant itself is filled with chilies of various colors along that spectrum. Overall, it’s a striking look for more dramatic edible landscaping projects.

Flavor-wise, these peppers deliver a lot more than the typical ornamental pepper (which favor growing for look over taste.) In fact, they work quite well as a culinary chili. They are crunchy, slightly sweet (with hints of apple) and lightly floral, providing a delightful contrast to their heat. They gain in sweetness as they age from purple to red.

Cooking with This Pepper

The Black Scorpion Tongue pepper’s unique flavor and biting, but eatable heat make it versatile in the kitchen. For those that enjoy the heat of Thai chilies, you’ll find plenty of use cases. Here are just a few:

• Hot Sauces: Its bold flavor and heat level make it ideal for crafting homemade hot sauces. With their natural sweetness, the Black Scorpion Tongue works well in fruit-based hot sauces. They can sub for habaneros in certain hot sauce recipes, just note the color difference. Your hot sauce will take on a different hue, particularly in their less mature purple state.
• Infused Oils: Use Black Scorpion Tongue peppers to infuse oils, creating a spicy oil perfect for drizzling over dishes or using in dressings. Just note the heat difference between this chili and the typical cayennes, jalapeños, and chile de arbols used. It’s a step up. You can use our habanero infused oil recipe as a starting point (and it won’t be as hot as that recipe.)
• Marinades: Incorporate peppers into marinades for meats to add depth and spice.
• Salsas: Dice these peppers into fresh salsas, where their sweetness can complement the acidity of tomatoes and other ingredients. The purple hue, too, adds a nice color pop.

And, as with all hot peppers, we recommend using kitchen gloves in the handling. The overall spiciness of the Black Scorpion Tongue is more potent than most culinary chilies, so know how to treat chili burn, too, in case the pepper’s oils touch your skin.

Growing Black Scorpion Tongue peppers

Black Scorpion Tongue peppers are generally not considered hard to grow. They are adaptable and can thrive in various growing conditions, whether in garden beds, pots, or even indoors. These plants can grow tall, reaching heights of 2-3 feet, so it’s advisable to use plant stakes, as the branches can become heavy with the numerous 1-2 inch long pepper pods.

Here is growing guidance to get you started:

• Sunlight:
  • These plants thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
  • Ensure they are placed in a location that receives ample light to encourage healthy growth and vibrant fruit coloration.
• Soil:
  • Use well-draining soil rich in organic matter. A mix of potting soil with compost can provide the necessary nutrients.
  • Aim for a slightly acidic to neutral pH (around 6.0 to 7.0) for optimal growth. Learn more on pH.
• Watering:
  • Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
  • Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry, ensuring the roots receive adequate hydration without causing root rot.
• Fertilization:
  • Apply a balanced fertilizer (such as a 10-10-10 NPK) during the growing season to promote healthy foliage and fruit production. Learn more about fertilizing pepper plants.
  • Consider using organic options like compost or well-rotted manure to enrich the soil.
• Temperature:
  • Black Scorpion Tongue peppers prefer warm temperatures, ideally between 70°F to 85°F (21°C to 29°C).
  • Protect young plants from frost and cold drafts, as they are sensitive to low temperatures.
• Spacing:
  • Space the plants 18-24 inches apart to allow for their tall growth (2-3 ft) and to ensure good air circulation.
  • This spacing helps prevent disease and promotes healthy growth.
• Support:
  • Due to the size of the plant and the amount of potential fruits, provide stakes or cages to support them as they grow.
  • This will help prevent branches from breaking under the weight of the fruit.
• Pest Management:
  • Regularly check for pests such as aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies.
  • Use organic pest control methods when necessary, such as insecticidal soap or neem oil.
• Harvesting:
  • Harvest the peppers when they reach their desired color—typically dark red, but they can also be enjoyed at various stages of ripeness.
  • Use scissors or pruning shears to cut the pods from the plant to avoid damaging it.

Must-read related posts

• The Hot Pepper List: Search our list of over 175 chili peppers. Filter by name, heat, flavor, and more.
• Purple Pepper Guide: Want to find more chilies with a purple hue? These are some of your best options.
• Can You Eat Ornamental Peppers? Are they all edible? Or only some?