Dorset - The Hottest Place In The World? A chilli pepper grown in a polytunnel in Dorset has been claimed as the world's hottest superceding the Naga Jalokia from Assam discovered in 2000 (855,000 heat units) The Dorset Naga is so fiery that when the owners break the skin to remove the seeds to sow for the following year's crop they have to wear gloves and be outside in a strong wind so their eyes don't sting. "It is something I wouldn't eat but some people must like them," said Joy Michaud, who developed the chilli at the Peppers by Post business she runs with her husband Michael at West Bexington. An American laboratory found the chilli to be almost 60 per cent hotter than the one listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The Naga registered a Scoville heat unit of 876,000. The record holder is a Red Savina Habanero with a rating of 577,000. The result was so startling that the Dorset pepper was sent for a second test to a laboratory in New York used by the American Spice Trade Association. It recorded a higher figure of 923,000 heat units. The Naga, which is sold with a health warning, was developed from a variety which originated in Bangladesh. The Michauds found the chillis, collected the seeds and grew them. It was only when customers told them they were unable to eat curries containing half a small pepper that they realized how hot they were. Mrs Michaud said: "We bought the Naga Morich chilli from a shop in Bournemouth. It is revered by the Bangladeshis. We have all the certificates and believe it is a world record. We will be in touch with the Guinness Book of Records." The news about the Naga Jalokia from Assam has been the subject of debate ever since it was announced with many saying the tests in India gave a false reading and many newspaper readers felt much the same about news of the Dorset Naga - because it appeared on April Fool's Day top