LONDON: A Wales horticulturist is growing the world’s hottest chilli — Bhut Jolokia, found in north-east India, and hopes to to offer it for sale from next year. “The Bhut Jolokia chilli, also known as the Ghost Chilli, grows naturally in Bangladesh, north-eastern India and Sri Lanka,” said the gold-medal winning horticulturist Medwyn Williams from Llanfairpwll in north Wales.

The Bhut Jolokia is more than three times the previous hottest chilli. The Guinness World Records confirmed it as the hottest chilli in the world last year, replacing the Red Savina.

Delighted to grow the chilli but refusing to try it, the north Wales gardener who has won 10 gold medals at the Royal Chelsea Show said: “Tests showed the chilli has a Scoville scale reading of more than one million, three times the reading of the Savina chilli.” Williams warns that one has to be careful while handling the deep red or orange chillies which has a knobbly texture which is oily to the touch.

“After touching the plant and taking out the seeds once I was not careful enough in washing my hands and I just touched my eyes and the really stung. Anyone eating one would need a lot of milk to line the stomach,” said Williams. PTI