Jamaican Scotch Bonnet (also known as Bonney peppers, Jamaican Scotch Bonnet Pepper or Caribbean Scotch Bonnet) is a variety of chili pepper grown in Jamaica (Caribbean) named for its supposed resemblance to a Scottish tam o' shanter bonnet.
Scotch Bonnet Pepper is fruity and full bodied, providing the backbone of countless Caribbean delicacies. Named for the unique shaped fruits which resemble famous “tam o shanter” Scottish hat.
Scotch bonnets have a heat rating of 100,000–350,000 Scoville units and are used to flavor many dishes and cuisines worldwide and are often used in hot sauces and condiments.
The Jamaican Scotch Bonnet gives jerk dishes (pork/chicken) and other Caribbean dishes their unique flavor. It is critical for the vinegar sauce in Jamaican Escovitch (escabeche). The thick walls of the pepper are well suited to long cooking times for making jerks and curries.
A Fresh, ripe Scotch bonnets can change from green to yellow to scarlet red; some varieties of this pepper can ripen to orange, yellow, peach, or even a chocolate brown.
Jamaican Scotch Bonnet pepper remains one of our competitive non-traditional export crops, providing significant foreign exchange.