It’s actual name is Bhut Jolokia Pepper and it translates to “Ghost Chile”, though we are not sure why it is named that. It was discovered by Professor Paul Bosland of New Mexico State University and Guinness Book rated this chili pepper as the world’s hottest pepper in fall of 2006. Scoville Heat Units (SHU) are what measures the heat of the pepper. For example, a New Mexico green chile has a rating of 1,500 SHU while an average jalapeno measures in at about 10,000 SHU. The Bhut Jolokia has a rating of 1,001,304 SHUs.

Source: shurebit
Link : http://www.nmsu.edu/%7Eucomm/Releases/2007/february/hottest_chile.htm