How Many Scoville Units is the One Chip Challenge? Explained (2024)

Last Updated on March 17, 2024 by Shari Mason

The #OneChipChallenge has become a widespread trend on social media, where participants are challenged to eat an exceptionally spicy tortilla chip and endure the intense heat for as long as possible before seeking relief.

It has been continually celebrated by spicy food enthusiasts and some curious tongues, but how hot is this chip really?

How many Scoville units is the one-chip challenge? Read on.

What’s the Scoville Unit In The One-Chip Challenge?

The spicy tortilla chip on the famous one-chip challenge has approximately 1.6 million to 2.2 million heat unit reading on the Scoville scale.

The peppers purposely used on the chip are the hottest peppers available in the market, like the Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, and Sichuan.

Read:

• How To Make Hot Sauce Less Hot?
• How Long Does The One Chip Challenge Last?
• How Many Scoville Units Are Takis?

Everything About Paqui’s One Chip Challenge

The one-chip challenge was first introduced to social media in 2016 by a brand called “Paqui.” It involves willing participants to eat an entire tortilla chip made with the hottest peppers.

After eating the extremely spicy tortilla chip, participants are expected to wait as long as possible before drinking or eating any heat reliever like water, milk, or ice cream.

Read:

• How Many Scoville Units Are Hot Cheetos?
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Kind of Peppers In The One Chip Challenge

Carolina Pepper

Carolina Reaper registers an average of 1.4 to 2.2 million heat units on the Scoville scale, making it the official hottest pepper in the world thus far.

Furthermore, it has been the main featured pepper ingredient since the one-chip challenge first started in 2016 until now.

Scorpion Pepper

Trinidad Moruga Scorpion registers an average of 1.2 to 2 million heat units on the Scoville scale. It is the second hottest pepper next to the Carolina Reaper.

It is the latest pepper addition to the 2021 and 2022 one-chip challenge, paired with its original pepper ingredient, the Carolina Reaper.

Do the Scoville Units in One Chip Challenge Change Every Year?

Yes, its heat content levels change every year. The 2021 and 2022 one-chip challenges included Scorpion pepper, while the preceding years had only used Sichuan pepper which is less hot.

While the changes in its Scoville unit may not be staggeringly high every year, the tortilla chip is evidently becoming increasingly hotter to level up the challenge.

How Long Does the One Chip Challenge Burn Last?

The mouth burn can last 45 minutes or more, varying from one person to another.

“Jealousy is like a hot pepper. Use it mildly, and you add spice to the relationship. Use too much of it and it can burn.”

— Ayala Malach-Pines

However, even if the burn has already been relieved, you may continue to feel slightly rumbling discomfort in your stomach for another couple of hours.

What Are the Dangers of Doing the One Chip Challenge?

The dangers you may experience from doing the one-chip challenge include mouth burn or irritation, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or breathing difficulties.

In most extreme cases, it can lead to severe chest pain, heart attacks, a damaged digestive system, or even death.

If you have a low tolerance for spicy foods, do not attempt to do the challenge. This also goes for those who are allergic to peppers, are underage, pregnant, or have underlying health conditions.

Also Read: What’s The Scoville Heat Level Of Takis?

FAQs

Let’s Sum It Up

The one-chip challenge is made with the hottest peppers, like the Carolina Reaper pepper, Trinidad Moruga Scorpion pepper, and Sichuan pepper.

Its tortilla chip in its packaging is growing hotter every year to make the challenge more difficult for its active participants.

More importantly, it is not intended for everyone as it poses mild-to-serious health problems, especially to those who are spicy food sensitive, have pepper allergies, are underage, pregnant, or have underlying health conditions.

References:

1. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-milk-help-with-spicy-food/
2. https://www.acs.org/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/past-issues/archive-2013-2014/peppers.html