About-NKC

Among the chilli cultivated in Nagaland, Naga King chilli (Capsicum chinense) occupies an important part in the state’s economy. It is traditionally cultivated in jhum fields along with rice. Naga King chilli is locally called ‘Naga mircha’. It is a sub shrub, short perennial with multiple dark green stems and grow to a height of   80 - 120 cm, bearing 60 - 250 fruits per plant. The length of leaf varies from 10.5 - 14.25cm with width ranging from 5.4 cm to 7.5 cm. The colour of the flower is yellowish green with pale blue anther. The fruits are berry, consisting of pericarp, placenta, seeds and dry cavity. The fruits are sub-conical to conical in shape, measuring 6.52 – 8.23 cm in length.  The fruit surface is rough and uneven.  A matured fruit weight up to 8.0-12.0 g and each contains about 33 – 53 number of light brown seeds.

          Naga King chilli is also cultivated in Assam and Manipur, bordering Nagaland.  Although King chilli, also called ‘Naga King chilli’, ‘Naga jolokia’, or ‘Bhut jolokia’, originally reported as Capsicum frutescens (Ritesh et al.,2000), later on DNA tests established it as Capsicum chinense with some C. frutescens genes as well (Bosland and Baral, 2007).  

          Naga King chilli is considered the world’s hottest chilli and has been entered in Guinness book of world records 2006. Due to its extra-ordinary pungency, it is especially suitable for preparation of ‘Oleoresin capsicum’ as well as extraction of capsaicin.  Very high capsaicin output per unit weight of dry powder makes it possible to lower down the cost of extraction of capsaicin from Naga King chilli.  Oleoresin powder extracted from Naga King chilli is predicted to dominate markets in the coming years as the mainstay of riot control.  The general concept is that lachrymatory compounds of organic products will be most acceptable from the human rights point of view and environment friendly than synthetically produced compounds like- CN (1-chloroacetaphenon), CS (O-chlorobazyladene malononitrile and CR (Dibenz (b,f) 1, 4-oxozenepine, (Ritesh et al., 2000). 

 The Naga King chilli has a long-standing association with ethno-agricultural activities of Naga people, in particular the Kukis of southern Nagaland have an intimate familiarity with its cultivation practices.  The Naga people have been using the King chilli to meet functional purposes such as making the first ever biological weapon as a methodology to fend off enemies or using it as a biological pest deterrent to smoke out fox and rodents from the fields, are common practices by the locals.  The close relationship of the Naga people and the Naga King chilli has also sprouted many folk tales surrounding the Naga King chilli and have been told as stories by Naga elders to young children.  There is an interesting story of Naga King chilli  spreading over the entire region and finally landing up in Bangladesh, the erstwhile Chittagong Hills of East Pakistan along with Naga freedom fighters during 1970s. 

 In fact, recently conservationists have turned to the Naga King chilli in hopes to address and reduce the impact of human encroachment on Asiatic Elephant space by smearing the King chilli along the fence of agricultural land to ward off Asiatic Elephants from attacking agricultural crops in search of food.  Thus, hopefully, it may reduce the Human-Elephant conflict and preserve the population of Asiatic Elephants. 

 As a culinary ingredient, the Naga King chilli can be consumed either raw or in dried forms and are widely used as a key ingredient in local Naga curries and pickles. 
 Although the Naga King chilli is extremely hot, it has also been valued traditionally by the Naga people, for it’s medicinal properties such as providing soothing effects on the digestive system, relief from symptoms of colds, sore throats and fevers; helping in blood circulation, especially for cold hands and feet, and as a hangover remedy. They are also used as a heart stimulant which regulates blood flow and strengthens the arteries, possibly reducing heart attacks.