Your pods don't appear to have the "classic" Bhut Jolokia shape. Since you have experience growing Bhuts before, how do these peppers compare heat / flavor wise? They do look like a Naga variety.

You say you got the seeds from a vendor that claims the seeds are from CPI. Maybe they got their seeds mixed up. Maybe they're selling seeds harvested from plants started with CPI seeds and a cross occurred?

The above being said, I have heard about people in the past few years who have grown Bhut seeds purchased directly from NMSU CPI that do not have the standard shape. Although statistically very low, maybe you're just one of the unlucky people who received true Bhut seed that exhibits regressed traits?

Hard to say. Have you contacted the vendor?

I'm curious, if you wanted to purchase Bhut Jolokia (Ghost pepper) seeds why did you buy from a vendor who claims the seed is from CPI versus CPI directly?

Bill

Bill, the vendor is http://www.chileseeds.co.uk/ last year I bought Bhut Jolokia Chocolate, Bhut Jolokia Red (CPI) and Carolina Reaper. Bhut Jolokia Chocolate is not chocolate it is red and crossed. I do not think it is true Bhut Jolokia red.

I did contact to this vendor but no reply. I was expecting a few words from him but he did not reply my email. I did not ask to refund only just I informed him. That time the CPI seeds ghost were not ripe. When I saw the lime color pods I thought it will be true Ghost because the pods have bumpy skin. All the CPI seeds from him the pods have same color and shape. The taste is something like ghost the skin is not thick like scorpion.

To buy the CPI seeds directly, first I have to make a call to them, according to their website about 2 years ago, since then I have not tried to buy from them.

I consider this seller has Pepper Joe mentality. I am sorry to mention Pepper Joe's name, actually I never have experienced with him only I have read about him here. Many posters here hated him, that's I know. The reason I mentioned his name is to express my frustration about this seller. I feel pain just like the Pepper Joe's victims according to the posts I have read here.

We should have a blacklisted sellers to our forum to prevent cheating us. The pleasure of growing pepper is not just for eating only for me.

Thanks for the reply and NMSU CPI information I never knew it before.

This post was edited by green-passion on Sun, Sep 7, 14 at 14:24

green-passion,

Sorry about the buy off of CPI question. I saw the Zone 7 in your ID and assumed you were in the US. You're in Denmark.so that explains why. NMSU CPI has some pretty restrictive (and in some cases ridiculous) polices about shipping outside of the US. It has only been a couple of years that they recognized Canada as being next door to the US instead of next door to Azerbaijan ;-)

Two things:

1) I hate to see a fellow enthusiast get ripped off by a vendor who is only interested in your money, not any meaningful follow-up support. If you are interested, give me a couple of weeks and I'll pull together some Bhut Jolokia varieties for you. I have Chocolate, Yellow, Peach and Red Bih Jolokia (a very close cousin to the Bhut). I also have Naga Morich (Dorset Naga). I only have a couple of true Red Bhut Jolokia I'm planning to grow out for myself next year to restock my inventory.

My seed is not isolated and I don't offer a 100% guarantee they'll grow true BUT they won't cost you anything ;-) I have a pretty good track record so far.

Hint Hint: if another member has some true growing Bhut seeds to share with green-passion. You can send them to me and I'll forward them in my envelope.

2) If you're interested in ordering from NMSU CPI or other North American vendor with restrictive / prohibitive shipping charges to Denmark, I don't mind playing middleman for you if you are willing to cover my costs regarding the order and mailing to you via regular post. No surcharges applied ;-)

Let me know via my email in my profile if you are interested in the Bhut seeds.

Bill

As Bill said, its a Naga Jolokia. Taste and heat-wise its indeed very close. Not a bad pepper at all, just not a true ghost... It sucks to get cheated like that, but try looking on the bright side - at least its not a bell pepper :)

edit: Brits grow those a lot and like to pretend its the same as real bhut.

This post was edited by Djole on Sun, Sep 7, 14 at 20:38

Looks Naga-ish to me also. FWIW, I can't tell the difference between Naga and Bhut flavor and aroma.

Bill: I would send the fuy some isolated Bhut seeds, but every time I bag a branch off this season, every bud/flower aborts within the bag. Starting to piss me off.

Kevin

Bill, last week I sent a message to the CPI, NMSU and today I got the reply from a senior research specialist, according to him Mr. Gerlad Fowler the owner of www.chileseeds.co.uk has bought Bhut Jolokia from the CPI in the past but he has not bought any new seed from the CPI in the last few years. Today again I sent the pictures of the pods too and he said they look like they have been cross pollinated. Just like you mentioned âÂÂMaybe they're selling seeds harvested from plants started with CPI seeds and a cross occurred?â Now it is crystal clear about my Bhut Jolokia. Bill, the CPI question was very reasonable, really I liked it :)

I really like to get those seeds you mentioned; it is very kind of you. IâÂÂll email the details to you.

Djole, many growers of the other forums I have posted do not give much attention on the true variety of the pods/plants, most of us usually happy to see the health of the plants/pods we praise the nice pictures our fellow members uploaded. We do not talk much about the cross pollination or true variety. Here we give opinion on the cross pollination and true verity too, thatâÂÂs I like. It is not a bell pepper :) still I like its uniqueness from the beginning to podding.

Kevin, I would like to get a few true Red Bhut Jolokia seeds. I like BillâÂÂs hint. I had Bhut Jolokia before but the pod sizes were very small so I do not like to try those seedsâ vendors again.

Now we identified my Red Bhut Jolokia, I really appreciated all of your contribution.

Thanks for the good posts.

Veto

Kevin, I do not know other Naga. Are they cross pollinated Bhut Jolokia? What it could be the closest variety of this cross pollinated Red Bhut Jolokia, do you have any opinion?

Flavour differentiation could not be easy to me too I have many cross pollinated scorpion I cannot differentiate the flavour from the true scorpion.

It is peace of mind if I knew what I have been growing is crossed. Growing cross pollinated seeds are also enjoyable. This season I do not have any chocolate because of this vendor. I have been doing all my best to have some nice pods from the day one and then the chocolate became red it broke my heart :) I do not hate the plants but I hate the vendor.

Do you have any uploaded picture of your Bhut Jolokia in the forum? Just I would like to see.

Veto

Veto: The Naga strains are VERY close relatives to the Bhut strains. Like I said, the only difference I see in the two is pod SHAPE. To me, they have the same flavor, aroma, and heat. To the TRAINED tongue, one might be able to tell the difference in taste -- I can't.

I'm probably going to do a harvest in the next day or so -- I'll post some pics then.

Kevin

Veto,

Kevin's assessment of the Naga strains is accurate. They may differ in heat levels and pod shapes but it can be very difficult to differentiate flavour differences. Usually the heat numbs your taste buds ;-)

In hindsight, is the 2nd picture in your second set of the so called Chocolate. Some of those pods seem to have a traditional Bhut shape?

Kevin, the seeds I'm sending Veto are from non-isolated plants. I'm sure he'd appreciate a few of yours... hint.

I agreed with both of your opinions, I do not have any experience on Naga strains. I like this plant even though it is cross. It has four colours, lime, dark green, orange and coral red, it is very unique.

Kevin, really I need some true Red Ghost seeds :) it is very nice to know you are going to post some pictures.

The second picture is look like ghost some other people also told me, Bill and this plant is the Rocoto I mentioned.

Veto

Veto,

The Rocoto looks nice.

This is the best shot I have of a true unripe Red Bhut Jolokia. Of course not all pods will look exactly like this one but they should still have a close resemblance skin wise. The ones in the background were still developing.

Veto: here you go! Bill's pic above is CLASSIC Bhut shape.

Harvest

Classic shape

See how they're kind of slender and elongated compared to your first pics?

Now, these came off the same plants, but pod variation lends itself to being Bhut-ish AND Naga-ish

See how the last 2 are a tad fatter and shorter? They could almost be mistaken for Naga. That's how really close the two strains are.

I'll have seeds in a couple weeks or so, but they are open pollinated. I have a Chocolate Bhut next to my Red Bhuts. Those are the only 2 Chinense varieties I'm growing. They could cross with my Annuums, but I don't know how likely that is. All depends on whether you want to take the chance on a cross. Let me know.

Kevin

Bill and Kevin, thanks for the amazing pictures. My fake CPI seedsâ pods are short, it is big different from the true Bhut.

Kevin, now it is very clear to me the difference between Naga-ish and Bhut. My last seasonâÂÂs Bhut were probably Naga-ish, they were very similar to your last two pictures.
Bill is going to get some Red Bhut Jolokia seeds from one of our forum members so it is enough for me. I have already some crossed Red Bhut Jolokia too. Thank you for the offer.
I am interested on Bhut Jolokia, Red, Yellow and Peace.

Veto